Avalanche Forecast
Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks
Another day of good skiing. Wind effect has started to show up near ridge line. Careful evaluation is recommended here and for cross loaded feature.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious in shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Recent NW winds have created slabs 30-50cm deep are being encountered in the Alpine on S and E aspects. Be cautious near ridgeline for wind loading, especially on lee features.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
Avalanche Summary
A few loose dry avalanches up to size 2 mostly on E to SE aspects, most likely from the recent NW winds.
Snowpack Summary
The recent NW winds have started to create windslabs on lee features and extent down the slope. Some wind pressed snow was observed on the windward aspects. Evidence of moderate wind loading was observed on cross loaded features in the alpine. The November crust layers are buried between 50 and 70cm. The basal layers of the snowpack are made up of a mix of crusts from October along with facets. These layers continue to show moderate to hard results in snowpack stability tests. The upper snowpack will change and become denser when the warm weather rolls in creating a slab on top of the November raincrust.
Weather Forecast
The forecast for Wednesday will bring an Alpine temperature of 1c and a freezing level of 1800m. Winds will continue from the northwest 25-35km/h. Thursday and Friday will bring sunny skies with the freezing levels rising to 2800m along with NW winds around 30km/h.
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/kananaskis.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
Remember, in shallow areas it is still possible to trigger the deeper layers and wake up the weak facets around the October crusts.