Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 6th, 2014 7:11AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Dry and Persistent Slabs.

burke.duncan, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The big news for the next couple of days is - no new precipitation and lots of strong westerly winds to redistribute last weeks storm snow and create new wind slabs or thicken preexisting slabs. Watch for local wind effects due to local variability.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Winds increasing as temperatures rise. Increased wind action along ridgetops on Monday with winds forecast to increase in all elevation zones over the next 24 hours.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity observed during travel on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Quick tour in Hero's Knob area with travel restricted to areas BTL - weak unconsolidated base prevalent up to 2200m. Some redistribution of snow beginning due to increased westerly flow.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Westerly winds will continue to increase in strength over the next 24-48 hours.

Enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Dry

Loose dry sluffing from steep terrain will increase in likelihood due to strong westerly flow.

Sluffs may trigger deeper instabilities.>Avoid travelling under cliffs that are exposed to sluffing from above.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Be aware of the potential for loose or slab avalanche activity to step down into deeper weak layers and involve the entire winter snowpack.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Jan 7th, 2014 2:00PM