Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 30th, 2014 8:05AM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Large avalanches are still a real possibility in terrain that has not already gone through a cycle. High consequence, low probability is the phrase of the week.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

High pressure is here for the next while. Moderately cold temperatures with minimal daytime warming for tomorrow. No new snow and light winds at al elevations. Thin cloud for most of the day.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches

Snowpack Summary

4cm's overnight has added a new surface layer. The surface hoar noted in past days is now buried and preserved in isolated areas. The mid pack is surprisingly well settled with an average of 80cm's of dense wind packed snow. Below this, the facets are still present with the usual depth hoar making up the bottom 5cm's. Stability tests today gave a compression test moderate(16), sudden collapse on the depth hoar layer. The take away from this test is two fold. The density of the overlying snow (and its inherent ability to propagate) and the failure at the base of the snowpack. A bad combination.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Tests today confirmed that the basal weakness is still a real concern. The faceted nature of the lower snowpack is undermining the overall strength of the entire snowpack. This is a widespread problem at treeline and alpine elevations.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

3 - 6

Wind Slabs

These were evident today at treeline elevations and expected to extend into the alpine. Test results were showing an improvement, but in steep, unsupported terrain the likelihood will go up.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Jan 31st, 2014 2:00PM