Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 5th, 2016 7:10AM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

With only a few centimeters of snow expected Thursday, little change is expected in the hazard levels. Wind slabs can still be triggered in steep/unsupported terrain, especially where the snowpack is shallow.

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Wednesday will be cloudy with sunny periods with no precipitation. Alpine temperatures should reach a high of -3 Â°C with very light ridge-top winds. Freezing levels will climb to 1900 metres. Thursday will be significantly cooler with up to 5cm of new snow possible.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new in the past 48hrs.

Snowpack Summary

Very little change in the snowpack over the last few days. Cool temperatures at lower elevations have led to a fair amount of facetting. Some surface hoar growth has occurred in sheltered areas below 2000m. Sun crusts of various thicknesses are found on steep solar aspects. Alpine areas continue to exhibit widespread wind slab conditions. These wind slabs did produce a few very small slab avalanches over the weekend that were triggered by skiers/riders in steep, unsupported and or shallow snowpack terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs dominate the Alpine and they continue to grow in thickness and density. Human triggering is possible in steep and unsupported terrain.

Do not travel on slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.>Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 6th, 2016 2:00PM