Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 6th, 2019 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

It is still a touchy snowpack. Human triggering is primed at Treeline and above.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Light flurries are possible on Monday, but expect some sun as well. Temperatures in the alpine will reach a high of -12 Celsius with ridge-top winds in the moderate to strong range from the SW. More snow is expected in the region on Wednesday.

Avalanche Summary

Ski cutting on steep North aspects just below treeline produced very small avalanches, but the snowpack in these features generally lacked the surface density to produce slabs. No new naturally triggered avalanches were observed today but visibility was fairly limited.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow has settled to 25 to 30cm at Treeline. Wind slabs forming in the Alpine and soft slabs in open areas at Treeline and below. Test profile at 2300m on a North aspect today produced easy shears at the storm snow interface, moderate shears down 40cm at the Dec 30th facet interface, and moderate/hard shears on the basal facets down 100cm.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Winds were moderate to strong today and actively building wind slabs at Treeline and above. These slabs feel quite sensitive to human triggering.

If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Avoid freshly wind loaded features.Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

The new snow load had not improved this layer. It is as delicate as ever. Do not underestimate its avalanche potential! Avoid thin spaces.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to weak layers at the base of the snowpack.Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent slopes.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 7th, 2019 2:00PM