Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 11th, 2018 3:00PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Conditions are still primed for human triggering.Click Here for SPAW:

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

Monday is to bring sunny skies with cloudy periods. Alpine temperature is forecast to be -7c with west winds of 25km/h.

Avalanche Summary

Two new avalanches were observed within the last 24 hours: The Tent Bowl had one size 3 that ran to the bench with a crown depth up to 150cm. On the bed surface, you could see that the avalanche stepped down in many places.A second new avalanche size 2.5 was observed over Parallel Falls which ripped a slab of 80cm thick along the base of the falls.

Snowpack Summary

The alpine has a variety of wind effect that goes into tree line. This wind effect is on all aspects. Natural activity has slowed down but conditions still look primed for human triggering. Any avalanche that is triggered has a high likelihood to step down to the persistent deep layers. These layers include the Jan 18th and 6th surface hoar layers down being found below 2400m down around 1m+ and the Dec15th facet interface down 150cm being found all the way up and into the alpine. Stick to conservative terrain and minimize your exposure to overhead areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Found at treeline and above up to 50cm thick. They are being found on all aspects due to reverse loading patterns of recent winds.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

Widepsread avalanche activity observed recently stepping down to the persistent deep layers such as Jan 6th Surface hoar and the Dec 15th Facet surface hoar interface. Any human triggerred slides will also likely step down to this interface

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Valid until: Feb 12th, 2018 2:00PM