Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 15th, 2016 3:00PM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Not a lot of change out there these days. It feels like a waiting game for the next storm. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

Summary

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Moderate winds with steady temperatures overnight. The expected overnight low is -15 in the alpine. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with occasional flurries blowing through. Alpine temperatures will hit -9 °C. Winds will taper throughout the day with an average of 15km/hr at 2500m. SW direction.

Avalanche Summary

1 loose dry was noted today on Tent ridge. Visibility was poor, but it seemed to start near the ridge and propagate for most of the path. Small slabs were undercut as it went, adding to the mass. Sz2, E aspect and ran to top of the runout.

Snowpack Summary

Today was another day of little overall change. Below treeline has 70-80 cm's of facets that offer little support to a person's weight. Treeline is better with a midpack that still has some structure and support to it. Deeper snow pack areas have a stronger midpack. The alpine has had some light flurries blow through, but not a significant source of load. The winds today were slightly less powerful than yesterday and as such, have kept the windslab problem flat lined.

Problems

Loose Dry

These "facalanches" continue to run out of steep terrain. So far most of the action has been in the alpine, however we may start to see this problem creep down to treeline as the drought continues.

Be very cautious with gully features.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

The wind slab problem is concentrated to ridges and immediate lee terrain. Use caution around lee features in the alpine.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 16th, 2016 2:00PM