Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 6th, 2016 7:32AM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The recent squally weather has added 15 cm of new snow accompanied by fierce winds. There is now a 40-70 cm persistent slab that has made the snowpack ripe for human triggered avalanches. The snowpack is complex so make your terrain choices simple.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with sunny periods. No new snow. Temperature in the alpine of -7.0. WInds will be moderate to strong from the west - northwest. Freezing levels in the valley bottom for Sunday and for the next few days afterward.

Avalanche Summary

Today's observations were limited due to the hellacious winds and strong convective squalls for most of the morning. We suspect there was a medium sized avalanche cycle very likely in the alpine elevations and some natural avalanche activity at treeline but once again our observations were limited.

Snowpack Summary

Roughly 45 and up to 70 cm is sitting on the top of the Jan 6th facet interface with today's (Feb 6th 2016) new storm snow. The warm temperatures and the strong to extreme gusty winds throughout today means now that the slab overlying the layer will very likely have cohesive characteristics and these wind slabs will be found on lee aspects. Storm slabs overlying the Jan 6th layer will be present everywhere else where the wind has not scrubbed the snow clean off the terrain (i.e. windward prone features such as high ridge lines). The midpack and basal layers of the snowpack are mostly weak except in places at treeline and above where the snowpack has a depth greater than 80 cm and is evenly distributed.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Avoid areas with overhead hazard.>Avoid alpine terrain.>Choose conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Persistent Slabs

Avoid areas with overhead hazard.>Good day to make conservative terrain choices.>Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Storm Slabs

Avoid lingering in runout zones.>Avoid paths that have not avalanched recently.>Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 7th, 2016 2:00PM