Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 11th, 2012 7:20AM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Wet and Deep Persistent Slabs.

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Travel remains easy, but it is still prudent to carefully evaluate more committing terrain. Clouds could move into the region on Sunday with some snow finally in the forecast for Monday.

Summary

Confidence

Good - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

Increasingly more cloud cover over the next couple of days with chance of light precip for Monday.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche activity was observed over the past 48hrs.

Snowpack Summary

Melt freeze crust on steep solar aspects up to 2900m. This crust is up to 3cm thick in some areas. Widespread SH growth in all areas except steep solar. On Friday, SH up to 10mm big was found standing up tall and not at all affected by winds at 2500m on a col on the W side of Heros knob. This layer will be a large concern when it gets buried by snowfalls later this week.

Problems

Loose Wet

Under clear skies stability will decrease throughout the day as radiation increases and temperatures warm up. These decreases in stability will be most apparent on steep solar aspects so be sure to avoid these areas later in the day.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Basal facets and depth hoar still persist at the base of the snowpack. Skier triggering of this layer is still possible from thin or rocky snowpack areas. Choose routes that avoid these kinds of features especially in steeper terrain.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Feb 12th, 2012 3:00AM