Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 8th, 2014 7:26AM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Snow appears to be on the way. The week-end will have up to 39cm's of new snow by Sunday morning. Keep a critical eye on the problem areas below the new snow.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Winds decreasing in the next 24hrs, but keeping a westerly flow (at 3000m). Temps will hold steady at the -5 range. Overnight Thursday/Friday will see a mild front pass through with a spike in the winds and 7cm's of new snow. The big news is coming Friday night. A system will arrive bringing strong to extreme winds (1500m & 3000m respectively). Right now almost 30cm's of snow is predicted to arrive with the winds. Good news!

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed.

Snowpack Summary

Trace amounts of snow today. Not enough to change anything in the snowpack though. The snowpack is largely unchanged from yesterday. Wind transport is ongoing as is the slab development in the alpine and treeline elevations. HS @ Burstall Pass 101cm. HS @ Burstall parking 73cm.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Sustained westerly winds have encouraged the slab development since yesterday. These will be found sitting on top of the buried hardslab in immediate lee and extending well below ridge lines. Caution on steep lee features.

Enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.>Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Thin areas near the transition to deeper snow pockets or hidden shallow areas are the trouble spots for this layer. Assess this layer carefully and look at the size of the terrain you are close to. Full depth avalanches are a possibility.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Jan 9th, 2014 2:00PM