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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Jan 14th, 2014–Jan 15th, 2014
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Kananaskis.

The strong westerly flow remains in place for at least another day.  Ridgetop winds were consistently strong to extreme Tuesday and there is till some redistribution of storm snow occurring - windslabs continue to build and become more cohesive.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Mix of sun/cloud with no new precipitation.  Westerly flow remaining strong to extreme with gusts to 85km/h predicted.

Avalanche Summary

One Size 1 loose dry reported in the Buller chutes.  One Size 3 SSL off of east side of Snow Peak probably occurred in previous 24 hours - ran to middle of runout zone taking out "usual" uptrack.  Numerous Size 2 SSL on NE asp Mt Sir Douglas and at Burstall Pass.  FL generally 1m deep with bed surface a combination of ground and old snow layers.

Snowpack Summary

Wind transport along ridgetops has been reduced due to the fact that most loose snow that was available for wind transport has been moved around - but some redistribution is till occurring.  A perfect combo of new snow, wind and mild temps has created new windslabs with variable thickness depending upon location and amount of snow in fetch zones.  In the Burstall area they varied from  20-50cm thick. 

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs continuing to thicken and become more reactive to a skiers weight - on some steep lee features windslabs are in excess of 50cm thick.
Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 5

Persistent Slabs

A long term concern this winter - weak base exists in man areas up to 2400 meters in elevation or at the upper limit of treeline so carefully consider the presence of this problem!.
Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.>Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 6