Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2016 8:16AM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Conservative terrain choices are the thing to be doing right now. Backing off is also a better option then riding a slide down....

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with sunny periods.Precipitation: Nil.Alpine temperature: High -10 °C.Ridge wind northwest: 10 km/h.Freezing level at valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

A few naturals up to sz 2 out of steeper rocky terrain that may have been solar triggered during the middle of the day. Otherwise there is still a surprising lack of natural avalanche activity on the January 6th interface. Winds increasing may initiate an increase in natural avalanche activity to keep an eye on localized wind affects.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm of new snow fell overnight with generally light winds. Over the past few days 15-20cm of new snow has fallen. This snow has not seen much wind yet but the previous windslabs from earlier in the week are now hidden by this recent storm. Easy-Moderate sheers were being noted within the recent storm snow as well as at the January 6th interface down 40-50cm. These hidden windslabs and persistent slabs are more prevalent at treeline and above and are most likely to be triggered from a thinner snowpack area where the weak facetted crystals are more sensitive to light loads such as a skier. Today forecasters turned around on a feature at treeline due to concerns associated with the persistent slab.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent slabs up to 40cm thick are are widespread in Alpine lee features and in more specific areas at treeline. Touchy in shallow areas

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>Caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Wind Slabs

Buried windslabs are being encountered at treeline and above.

Use caution in lee areas in the alpine. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.>Avoid cross loaded features.>Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Storm Slabs

New storm slabs up to 20cm thick are being encountered around ridgelines and gullied terrain in Alpine areas.

Avoid cross loaded slopes at or above treeline.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 31st, 2016 2:00PM