Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 1st, 2015 3:00PM

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

Alberta Parks mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

"Low" doesn't mean "no".  If winds increase overnight and during the day on Monday, we could see avalanche danger increase to moderate at treeline.  Keep and eye on winds locally.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

A few more cms of new snow is likely to fall overnight and then on Tuesday another 10cm of snow is forecast to arrive with moderate SW winds at higher elevations.  Temps are once again seasonal.

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche activity was observed.

Snowpack Summary

The 10-15cm of recent HST is being redistributed at higher elevations from a SW wind.  New storm slabs are building in immediate lees at higher elevations while snow in most other areas remains undisturbed by winds.  Jan 16th SH and Dec 13th CR are down 30 and 50cm and continue to produce moderate results. 

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Currently these slabs are only being found in immediate lees in open wind affected terrain. 
Caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
No activity on this layer in some time but we exepect in the wrong kind of terrain feature it could be an issue.  ie, steep and unsupported at treeline.
Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs
Basal facets are a concern in wind affected areas where the snowpack is highly variable
Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Feb 2nd, 2015 2:00PM