Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 29th, 2013 8:13AM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Storm Slabs.

burke.duncan, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The arctic air will clear out and temps will rise but winds will rise as well so we can look forward to new soft slabs forming along ridge tops - there is still some loose dry snow available for wind transport.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

The arctic ridge is weakening and warmer air will begin to push in from the west.Â A few cm on new snow each day until Friday but no appreciable accumulations.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity observed on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

Snow survey flight today with 4 profiles completed....heavily faceted snowpack in areas below treeline with Nov crust still evident in some locations.Â A mix of hard windslab from last weeks winds and thin softslabs from the storm snow later in the week.Â The Jan 6 interface still showing up in compression tests in the hard range down 30-40+cm.Â Old surface hoar found on this interface at a sheltered location at 2200m near the divide.

Problems

Wind Slabs

30-40cm thick hard windslabs are being encountered on north to southeast aspects at treeline and above. Expect wide propagations due to the hard nature of these slabs.

Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Storm Slabs

Variable thickness soft slabs .

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 30th, 2013 2:00PM