Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 31st, 2013 3:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

One day it will snow again! In the meantime, another chinook is pushing into the region. Warm temps and strong winds should be expected. Good skiing still being found in sheltered terrain, even in the Alpine!

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

A few additional cm of snow is expected to fall over the next 24hrs but accumulations are not forecast to be significant. With the latest chinook rolling through the forecast area winds and temperatures are both forecast to increase. Winds will be strong at upper elevations out of the SW and temperatures will be in the single digits below freezing.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25cm low density snow over the Jan 23rd interface. This new snow is burying the widespread windslabs that developed during the intense winds in mid january. The midpack is generally well settled and no major shears were observed. Observations were completed in the Aster Lake region.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Up to 25cm of snow has fallen at upper elevations over the past week. This snow has formed soft and hard storm slabs up to 30cm thick in open terrain. Field observations show that these slabs are isolated to ridge crests and immediate lee features.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Buried windslabs should be expected throughout the region. These slabs have been buried by the recent snow making them tougher to locate. Be aware of thin areas surrounding these slabs where the snowpack is weaker.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Feb 1st, 2013 2:00PM