Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 28th, 2019 3:31PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Good skiing with this recent snowfall. Keep clear of thin areas.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will be mostly sunny with temperatures starting at -20c and warming during the day to -6c. Winds will be light out of the NW. Wednesday is forecast to be cloudy with a chance of flurries and a high of -6c.

Avalanche Summary

One size 2 avalanche was observed on a NE aspect on Mt. Birdwood in the last 24hrs.One size 2 avalanche was observed on a E aspect on Snowpeak.

Snowpack Summary

10cm of low density snow fell last night and was being moved around a bit with the moderate NW winds today. Some soft wind slabs were observed in lee areas in the alpine. The warm temps from the weekend has densed up the top 10cm of the snowpack just below the storm snow. This layer was producing moderate compression tests down 23cm from the top. Besides some of the surface instabilities, a generally well settled upper snowpack sits on 50-60cm of basal facets that are more reactive in shallower areas. The predictability of where to find thin and thicker areas is very challenging. There is a strong likelihood to trigger an avalanche from a thin spot and it has the potential to go big.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Respecting shallow areas can't be overstated right now. If this layer fails, it will almost certainly be from a shallow areas. Bouldery areas and sparse trees are examples of trouble spots.

Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to weak layers at the base of the snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

There are new slabs from the wind as well as buried slabs. In both cases, expect to find the in immediate lee areas.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 29th, 2019 2:00PM