Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 18th, 2013 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Well, the warm winds are blowing and the snow ain't falling. Most open terrain has been ravaged by winds over the past few days. Watch for stiff windslabs, especially in convex or unsupported terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Well... The winds are expected to continue for one more day then we will see them begin to drop off a little and the temperatures to also decrease. No new snow is in forecast for few days yet. When it does snow again, that will be a good thing as the snowpack has settled and strengthened with the latest warm spell...

Avalanche Summary

Report into the office a Skier remotely triggered sz 2 from 50m away on Kent Ridge. Slide was 5-50cm deep, 60m wide and ran approx 100m. Slide failed on the ground. No other avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread hard slabs in all open wind affected terrain. Mixture of hardslabs and soft slabs at treeline failing down 40-50cm on the Jan 6th facet interface. Midpack still well settled.

Problems

Wind Slabs

30-40cm thick windslabs are being encountered on north to southeast aspects at treeline and above. Expect wide propagations due to the hard nature of these slabs.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>Be very cautious with gully features.>Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Jan 19th, 2013 2:00PM