Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 13th, 2019 3:00PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Good skiing can be found in sheltered areas. Wind slabs are present in the alpine.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Monday should be mostly sunny with alpine temperatures up to -3c with moderate westerly winds. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be be cloudy with sunny breaks and temps a little cooler. Maybe some light snow on Thursday. Hoping!!!!!!!!

Avalanche Summary

One natural size 2.5 slab avalanche occurred sometime during Saturday night in Tent Bowl at approximately 2350m. The failure plane was mostly on the basal facets and possibly also on the december 30 facets.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread wind slabs exist in the alpine and open areas at tree line. Cross loaded features and lee areas show harder wind slabs and could be be triggered at the thinner spots. The upper half of the snow pack is well settled and overlies 50-60cm of very weak facets(sugar like snow). This condition will persist over the long term, which means that any avalanche that occurs could step down to these weak basal layers causing a very large avalanche. See the avalanche summary below.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are widespread in the alpine and in open areas at tree line. Steeper alpine features and thin spots are places to watch for human triggering.

If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.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

Any avalanche has the potential to trigger the basal facets, resulting in large avalanches.

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.Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Jan 14th, 2019 2:00PM