Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 17th, 2014 7:55AM

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

burke.duncan, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Light snowfall and strong winds were a factor again on Monday but natural avalanche activity is declining. Careful evaluation of terrain will certainly be necessary over the next couple of days as light snowfalls and strong winds will continue.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Wind speed and direction is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with scattered flurries on Tuesday. Precip 5-8cm snow. Overnight low -13 , daytime high -9. Winds West 25 km/h gusting to 65 overnight and 35km/h gusting to 70 km/h on Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

Visibility was limited by cloud cover and light snowfalls but natural avalanche activity appears to have tapered off on Monday as the storm snow settled and new snowfall amounts have declined. The moderate to strong winds will further develop and stiffen the variable thickness windslabs which have formed over the past few days. With the exception of some loose dry sluffs originating in steep rocky terrain, no new avalanches were observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

Several centimeters overnight with a few more through the day On Monday. A moderate to strong westerly flow insured windward slopes are being kept bare and lee aspects are receiving additional loading. Widespread wind slab conditions exist in in the alpine with similar but more sporadic conditions at treeline. These recently formed windslabs are sitting on a variety of old surface types including facets/suncrusts and in areas below treeline - surface hoar. None of these old surface layers are providing for a good bond between the old and new snow layers.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Windslabs are more of an issue on lee aspects as continuing strong winds have stripped most windward slopes bare.

Avoid areas with overhead hazard.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Deep Persistent Slabs

Likely trigger points are thin areas where it is more difficult to recognize the hazard due to the presence of new snow. While we are seeing little action involving this weakness it remains a concern due .

Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.>Choose conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Feb 18th, 2014 2:00PM