Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 12th, 2013 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Up to 5cm of new snow overnight with winds spiking at 125km/h out of the West. Watch for fresh wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded features, and be aware of the potential for higher danger levels if more snow arrives than is forecasted.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Winds will spike at 125km/h out of the west overnight. As much as 5cm of snow is expected by Wednesday morning with temperatures cooling to -15 degrees.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new.

Snowpack Summary

Trace amount of snow overnight. 0 to 20cm of relatively low density snow sits on a very hard wind slab. A hard compression test was observed which failed beneath the dense wind slab. Snowpack at lower elevations is weak and facetted.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Between 0 and 20cm of recent snow currently overlies a hard wind slab in alpine and treeline areas. Shallow snowpack areas and steep convex features are potential triggering spots for this buried wind slab.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Dry

Sluffing from steep terrain could occur on Wednesday if the forecasted winds and snow arrive. Be cautious in and below steep lee and cross-loaded terrain, especially below ridge-crests.

Avoid travelling on ledges and cliffs where sluffing may have severe consequences.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 13th, 2013 2:00PM