Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 31st, 2016 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Sudden planer sheers are still being encountered on the Jan 6th interface down 40-50cm. Bigger slopes are not the places to be at this time.

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Forecast for Monday February 1st.Cloudy with sunny periods.Precipitation: Nil.Alpine temperature: High -11 °C.Ridge wind west: 15-25 km/h.Freezing level at valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

A few isolated sz 1.5-2 avalanches out of steeper alpine terrain on all aspects.

Snowpack Summary

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.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

The Jan 6th layer is down 40-50cm in the region. This interface continues to produce E to Moderate sudden planar sheers.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Wind Slabs

Buried windslabs are hard to located under the recent snow. Keep a keen eye out for thinner weak snowpack areas and avoid them.

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

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Feb 1st, 2016 2:00PM