Avalanche Forecast
Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks
Not a good time to be in avalanche terrain of any kind. This includes valley bottom runout zones.
Avalanche Problem 1: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Present on all aspects. There are actually several slabs that are being lumped together with this problem. In the alpine some are buried and may need a quick dig to find.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Avalanche Problem 3: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
The Jan 6th surface hoar is down 100cm and the Dec 15 is down 120cm. Any slide on these layers would produce large avalanches.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
- Carefully evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.
Avalanche Summary
With the sudden and unexpected weather pattern, there is an ongoing natural cycle underway. Today's observations are as follows:
- K-Pow shared this info: Natural sz4 in the alpine near their operation. Specifics are not known to us at this point, but it cleared mature timber and made new paths.
-Commonwealth Ridge, sz3.5, E aspect, very wide propagation, 80-100cm deep, started in the alpine and widened out one trim line.
-Ranger Creek, sz3.5 debris made it to the top of the runout (to the pinch for those that know the area)
-numerous sz2 slabs at treeline and alpine areas throughout the forecast region, out of steep skiable terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Last night we received more wind than expected. Lots of wind transport involving the storm snow. The winds were out of the north and as such, the new wind slabs are on NE-SW aspects. Temperatures also crept up today to near 0C. This has made for increased slab development as the snow bonded quickly. These new slabs are at all elevations, and all aspects when the older wind slabs are taken into account. The weak layers are much deeper now and very stressed. Some crowns from today were almost 2m deep.
Weather Forecast
Another storm is on its way! This is expected to start tonight and bring 14cm of snow. Overnight treeline winds will be about 30km/hr from the SW. Tomorrow we are expecting another 12cm. Some models are calling for 35cm in the next 24-36hours. Temps will rise to -6 in the alpine tomorrow. Winds are expected to slow as the storm passes.
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With the relatively warm temperatures, the new snow is expected to settle quickly and form slabs.