Avalanche Forecast
Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks
The new snow is freshened up the region but the persistent surface hoar layers are taking more load and getting more reactive. When the winds come...pull back!
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopes
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
- Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
A surface hoar and facet layer down 50-70cm is beginning to wake up with the recent new snow.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
Avalanche Problem 3: Loose Dry
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Running far and fast up to sz 2. From steep unskiable areas. Ice climbers be aware
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.
Avalanche Summary
A few new slabs within the recent storm snow up to sz 2. There were also a few loose dry up to sz 2. The SE face of Smuts also ran up to sz 2 from 2800m.
Snowpack Summary
Another 13cm overnight brings our recent storm snow up to 30-40cm over the past 2 days. This new snow has yet to see much wind affect but it is continuing to bury two key layers. One the Dec interface down 70cm which is facets or surface hoar (below 2300m) and the Jan 6th Surface down 30 which is surface haor below 2300m or a sun crust on steep solar aspects up to 2600m. As the snow settles and strengthens over these layers they will become more reactive. Whumpfing and settlements were being observed on thursday so treat that as a heads up. Otherwise, wind slabs are still being observered in alpine areas on all aspects but as of yet they don't extend far downslope. As the winds increase, expect all of these problems to become more reactive at treeline and in the alpine.
Weather Forecast
Winds will slowly increase here out of the NW into the moderate range over the next 24hrs. Temperatures will increase to a more seasonal level on friday and no new snow is forecast.
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Look for these as you transition to alpine terrain and/or as you approach ridge tops. As winds increase they will become more widespread.