Kananaskis

Up to 35 cm of recent snow is being redistributed by strong to extreme SW-W winds, Fresh windslabs are forming and are prime for human triggering, Caution route finding and managing terrain essential.

Avalanche control is being planned for 9am Feb 25th on the Canmore hill, (EEOR control zone) Expect short closures while control work in completed.

Visibility was limited, but several naturally triggered wind slabs were observed. These slabs are 30 to 50cm deep and are mainly occurring on easterly aspects in the Alpine. The avalanches were mostly in the size 1.5 to 2 range.

Between 20 and 40cm of new snow fell in the past 2 days, with the larger amounts in the southern part of the forecast area. The winds have picked up and fresh wind slabs and wind pressed snow now dominates the landscape. There is now 35 to 70cm overlying the Feb 14th layer of suncrust, surface hoar and old/or hard wind slabs. Slab development is ongoing with strong to extreme SW-W winds

Wednesday:

Mostly cloudy skies with the occasional sunny period. High of -12

Winds will continue in the strong to extreme range from the SW-W

Snow is expected to start slowly Wednesday evening and up to 10cm by Thursday morning.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Recent strong wind means wind slabs may be found farther downslope than expected.
• Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind-exposed terrain.
• Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
• Be careful with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.