Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 14th, 2012 8:36AM

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.

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Watch for reverse wind loading due to forecast mod to strong northerly winds. The recent storm snow is not bonding well to the underlying layers of surface hoar, facets and sun crust. Solar triggering is also a slight possibility as the day warms up.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - -1

Weather Forecast

Clear on Wednesday with cool temps and mod to strong winds from the N. Another wave of precip possible late Thursday.

Avalanche Summary

HSR sluffs in steep terrain all elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15cm HST now overlies the 120213 SH/FC/SC layer at TL. HST sluffs easily with Sc. Wind affect ALP.

Problems

Wind Slabs

The new snow is bonding poorly with the previous surfaces of surface hoar, facets and sun crust. Wind affect observed in Alpine. Steep terrain on lee aspects should be treated with caution. Slabs between 15 and 30cm can be expected.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very 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 15th, 2012 3:00AM