Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 17th, 2013 8:48AM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

A welcome addition of up to 25cm's of new snow AND light winds with it. Lots of sluffing today on anything over 40 degrees. Caution with terrain traps at all elevations. Clear skies tomorrow may be a trigger for even more loose dry avalanches.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

We are on the tail end of the system that has brought us up to 25cm. The snow came with very little wind. Forecasted wind speeds are expected to remain light to moderate for Monday. Monday will start clear with increasing cloud throughout the day. No more precip until Tuesday. Temps will remain steady at -12 in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose dry out of steep alpine terrain, all aspects. Isolated SSL out of steep unsupported alpine terrain, up to SZ 2.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm in the last 24hrs. Low density with little cohesion. CTM (SP), down 25 on old windslab. E asp. The new snow is hiding a variety of old surfaces. The slabs that sit below the storm snow are variable in thickness and hardness.

Problems

Loose Dry

Lots of activity within the storm snow. Widespread sluffing with the occasional slab pulling out in steep unsupported slopes. Sizes were mostly 1-1.5.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are present in lee and cross loaded features in the alpine and open areas at treeline. These slabs are 30 to 70cm thick and are reactive to skier traffic. Spatial variability is a key point with these slabs.

Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Feb 18th, 2013 2:00PM