Avalanche Forecast
Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks
The winds were raging today! The alpine has taken the brunt of it, but even the low elevation areas had some slabs develop. Good skiing is out there, but it will take some searching.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Many old avalanches have filled in already. There is a risk that these slopes could avalanche again as they load up. The wind slabs stepping down and triggering this layer is also a concern.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach run out zones.
- Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
- Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing new today.
Snowpack Summary
Strong to extreme winds have stripped most of the available snow and formed stiff wind slabs on all lee aspects. The winds have come from west to north aspects which has made a reverse loading pattern. Luckily these areas are easily identified once seen. So far the alpine has been the most wind effected, but treeline also has widespread slabs. Even valley bottom areas have felt the winds. Many avalanche crowns from last week have filled in.
Weather Forecast
The winds will taper overnight tonight. Tomorrow they are "only" 45km/hr from the west. Temperatures will remain consistent with today's, and hover around -13°. Flurries will bring up to 6cm throughout the day tomorrow.
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These reach almost to valley bottom and are dense enough to propagate if triggered. They make for challenging skiing right now.