Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 12th, 2017 3:09PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Natural avalanche activity has subsided but human triggered avalanches are still a real possibility. Despite the danger level dropping, conservative terrain choices are still prudent.

Summary

Confidence

High - Due to the quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Winds will continue out of the NW on Friday but the temps are slowly increasing. No new precip for the next 5 days!

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche activity was observed.

Snowpack Summary

Wind effect primarily on lee features and cross loaded areas in Alpine. Some areas have evidence of reverse loading from the northern winds so even look for these slabs on S and W aspects in some areas. Faceted snow pack from top to bottom up to 2400m. Ski penetration to ground up to 2150m in most areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent snow and wind have created fresh wind slabs immediately below ridge crests on all aspects. Reverse loading from the northerly winds is expected to diminish over the next few days as we return to a westerly flow.

Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopesAvoid freshly wind loaded features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

More likely to be triggered from thinner areas and step down to the basal facets and involve the entire winters snowpack.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 13th, 2017 2:00PM