Avalanche Forecast
Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks
More snow and strong winds are on the way. Hazard will increase at higher elevations as wind slab development continues. Conservative route selection is in order.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features.
- Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopes
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Overhead cornices loom along ridge-lines. Use caution during periods of intense snow/wind loading or when solar radiation is strong.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger deep slabs.
Avalanche Summary
Visibility was somewhat limited today, but a few thin slab avalanches up to size 2.0 have occurred in the past 24 hours on steep NE, N and NW aspects in the Alpine.
Snowpack Summary
As much as 20cm of recent snow has fallen together with strong to extreme westerly winds. Field observations were limited today but it is obvious that wind slabs are widespread in the Alpine. The unknown at the moment is the distribution and extent of wind slabs at Treeline. It is expected that lee and cross-loaded features at ridge-crest will have wind slab formations, so be cautious with these terrain features. Cornices seem to have grown in the past 24 hours. On solar aspects several buried crusts persist and seem to be reactive for slab avalanches in steep and unsupported terrain. Despite cooler temperatures, when the sun does come out it has lots of punch so be thinking about the effects of solar radiation later in the day.
Weather Forecast
Hang on to your hats! it is expected to be very windy for the next couple of days with gusts reaching 75 to 100km/h from the west on Wednesday. Temperatures will remain cool with highs near -7C and cold wind chills. Flurries are expected Tuesday with local amounts ranging from 5 to 20cm.
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.
Extensive wind slab development has occurred in the Alpine and in lee and cross-loaded features at Treeline. Expect some natural avalanche activity in steep terrain and be aware that human-triggering is likely in recently wind loaded features.