Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 24th, 2013 3:00PM

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

burke.duncan, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The new snow at treeline and above is suffering from strong west winds and is forming into new thin slabs on top of the old mix of hard and soft slabs so in the short term there will be 'bonding' issues to be aware of.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

For Friday we can only look forward to some convective flurries and thru the weekend we are looking at only dribs and drabs of new snow that will amount to little. Temps will be in the -8 to -12 range at ridgetop and winds will continue to be strong out of the west.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity noted other than some loose dry sluffs from steep rocky alpine terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 14cm of new snow at treeline by Thursday morning BUT it was accompanied by strong westerly winds which have resulted in considerable redistribution of the storm snow and scouring of windward slopes. There was 7cm of new snow in the Smith-Dorrien valley bottom area at the Burstall/Chester trailheads. The same mix of hard and soft slabs will be found in all open terrain. The midpack continues to weaken under the influence of a relatively strong temperature gradient promoting facetting.

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. Thin new slabs are forming on top due to the combo of new snow and wind action.

Avoid cross loaded slopes at or above treeline.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>The stable avalanche conditions still require careful decision making.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Jan 25th, 2013 2:00PM