Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 25th, 2016 7:55AM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Slow accumulation of snow combined with winds continue to slowly build wind slabs in alpine lee features. A skier's weight could be all that it takes to trigger an avalanche.

Summary

Confidence

High - Due to the number of field observations on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

On tuesday the ridgetop highs will be -4, mainly cloudy with only a trace of new snow. The winds will be westerly at 50 km/h increasing to extreme in afternoon and evening topping out at over 100km/hr. Wednesday will be similar, with diminishing but continued high to extreme westerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

A few small loose dry avalanches were noted out of steep unskiable terrain near ridgetop on Easterly aspects.

Snowpack Summary

A 20-40cm wind slab is prominent on lee and cross loaded slopes at alpine and treeline elevations consisting of several laminated layers within the top 30cm, easy sudden planer snowpack test results were found on these interfaces. The January 6th layer was found down 50 cm but was not reactive at this site to testing. At treeline and below treeline up to 2050m a buried temperature crusts exists on all aspects. Below Treeline the snowpack is showing signs of continued faceting and weakening which is obvious when you step off of of the up track.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent slabs averaging 40cm thick are widespread in the alpine on lee and cross-loaded features and in more specific areas at treeline. This layer is still a concern though faceting has made it less reactive.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.>Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.>Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded features>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Wind Slabs

20-40 cm thick wind slabs on lee and cross-loaded features in alpine and down to treeline areas are resulting in easy sudden planer snowpack tests on a number of layers within the top 30cm.

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

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Jan 26th, 2016 2:00PM