Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 21st, 2019 3:00PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Natural avalanche activity has slowed down. The consequences of triggering the basal facets are still high. Be mindful in route selection.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday is forecast to bring cloudy skies with light flurries in the afternoon, a temperature of -11c at 2300m and 70km/hr winds from the west are expected in the alpine. Wednesday is to bring 6 cm of snow, -8c and light NW winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed today.

Snowpack Summary

The most recent snowfall left us with about 10cm of snow. This new snow overlies the Jan. 17 SH which is mostly found below tree line(below 2200m) and will be on our radar again when we get more snow. This new snow has been touched by the wind in the alpine in places but skies nicely once it becomes sheltered.We dug in a few different places today and got varying results. The thin areas are more reactive to test results on the basal facets than the deeper places. In the Commonwealth area today we dug a pit with a depth of 80cm and the bottom half was facets. That said, we have had a lot of wind on the slopes this winter, so it is challenging to know where the thin and deeper areas are. Triggering an avalanche from a thin spot has a high likelihood to spread across the slope.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The basal facets are impressive, take the time to dig a pit. This layer will be very distinctive.

Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent slopes.Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to weak layers at the base of the snowpack.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Wind Slabs

This layer will now be buried under the recent snow.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 22nd, 2019 2:00PM