Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 19th, 2016 7:05AM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Choosing smart terrain is the name of the game right now. Choose supported terrain, without terrain traps. Good skiing can be found in sheltered areas at treeline.

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Isolated flurries tonight, not leaving much for accumulation. Alpine low will be around -6 with a freezing level of 1300m. Winds will be 25-35km/hr from the SW.Tomorrow will see more flurries with trace accumulation. Alpine high of -5. Alpine winds will still be strong from the west with gusts up to 55km/hr. Freezing level 1500m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches

Snowpack Summary

We have yet another crust from yesterday's heat. It is thin and apparent up to 1900m. It may be higher on solar aspects. At the moment, new snow from last night has the crust down 5 cm's at valley bottom. Yesterday saw up to 14cm's of snow near the divide and 5-7 closer to the road. At treeline and above, this relatively warm snow was blown into new storm slabs. These slabs appear quite suddenly in open, exposed terrain. Expect to find them near 2100m. The buried wind slabs below are starting to heal up reasonably well, but we have seen a failure down 30cm's in some areas. Cornices are forming rapidly and should be treated with caution. Mud lake snow depth is 112cm and Burstall Pass is 159cm's.

Problems

Storm Slabs

These are on all aspects, and have different characteristics. Some slabs are settlement slabs, wind pressed slabs and wind loading slabs. These are expected to be a short term problem.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

These are slowly improving, but they are still showing results in stability tests. Dig to have a look at the interface and how it is behaving with the new load.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.>Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Persistent Slabs

This layer can possibly wake up with large triggers. Avalanches & cornices hitting the slopes are both potential triggers.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.>Avoid steep slopes below cornices.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Feb 20th, 2016 2:00PM