Kananaskis

A pulse of snow with continued strong winds have elevated the hazard level. Human triggering of slab avalanches is likely.

Thursday will be cloudy with light flurries. Snow accumulations will likely be less than 5cm. Winds will be strong from the West with daytime temps reaching -14C. The forecast looks similar on Friday, but snowy on Saturday.

Weather conditions limited observations today, but a few avalanches were heard while in the Highwood Pass area.

10 to 20cm of new snow in the last 24 hours, with continued strong winds in the Alpine. Field teams observed strong winds from both the north and the south today, so fresh wind slabs are likely forming on all aspects. A number of crusts and a well consolidate snowpack make up the middle of the snowpack. The basal layer of the early November layer of rain crust at lower elevations and facets at upper elevations are still being monitored, but have not been active lately. The overall snowpack is quite different above and below 2150m. Below this elevation the snowpack is essentially frozen layers of previous rain saturated snow. Above this elevation the snowpack is deeper than normal for this time of year and is quite strong through the midpack.

• Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
• Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• Be cautious of sluffing.