Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 15th, 2012 8:08AM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Surface hoar, facets and suncrusts are slowly being buried by light snowfalls over the past few days. Isolated pockets of slabs should be expected in wind affected areas.

Summary

Confidence

Good - -1

Weather Forecast

Strong SW flow will continue into tomorrow for dying off later in the day on Thursday. We may see a few isolated flurries throughout the day on Thursday, but total amounts are not expected to be significant.

Avalanche Summary

Minimal observations. No new natural avalanche activity noted.

Snowpack Summary

Minimal observations due to rescue training in the Eastern part of Kananaskis. Moderate SW flow noted in the bow region and suspect that the soft slabs that were 30-50cm thick are continuing to develop throuhgout the forecast area on lee aspects. This new snow is overlying a variety of different layers of interest from Sun crusts on solar aspects, to widespread surface hoar on other aspects. These crusts will become more reactive as they continue to take more load.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Soft slabs up to 30cm thick are now overlying the Feb 13th facets, surface hoar crust combination. These slabs continue to sensitive to light loads such as a skier.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Sluffing is expected to continue in steep terrain, especially on lee aspects. Debris may run long distances where sun crust or hard slabs are buried. Ski cutting is easily triggering this problem and numerous natural sluffs were observed today.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Basal facets and depth hoar still persist at the base of the snowpack. Skier triggering of this layer is still possible from thin or rocky snowpack areas. Choose routes that avoid these kinds of features especially in steeper terrain.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Feb 16th, 2012 9:00AM