Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 6th, 2017 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Human triggered avalanches are still very possible at this time. The current snowpack is weak and thin areas will be likely places where a skier could cause an avalanche.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Temps are going to be doing the slow climb back up over the next few days. Winds are forecast to remain calm and there is even a chance for some snow later in the weekend.

Avalanche Summary

No new slab avalanche activity was observed but there was a few small sz 1 loose dry avalanches out of steep unskiable terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread wind affect in alpine areas and into open areas at treeline and below. Natural avalanche activity has began to subside but the snowpack is still within the range of being triggerred by a skier. Our main concerns continue to be thin windslabs in alpine areas that are overlying the 1218 facets down 30-50cm. This layer is easy to locate as its marked by a major density change in the snowpack. Lower in the snowpack is the 1112 crust. Not much natural avalanche activity has been observed on this layer but it is still within our minds. Thin snowpack areas will be the places werein you may be able to trigger this weakness.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

These slabs are failing down 30-50cm at the main density change. Human triggerring from a thin snowpack area is a definite possibility.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Isolated natural avalanches last week stepped down to this basal interface. Thin areas will be the likely trigger points wherein you may get the persistent and the deep persistent slab to fail.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 7th, 2017 2:00PM