Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 27th, 2017 3:04PM

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.

Thin weak areas are the likely trigger points. Good skiing was found on Friday above 2000m but we were in sheltered terrain and lower angle slopes.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy.Precipitation: Nil.Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C.Ridge wind west: 35 km/h.Freezing level at valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

One sz 2 triggered from a cornice collapse on a N aspect. This was observed over on Friday but most likely occurred earlier in the week.

Snowpack Summary

Wind affect in alpine areas, most noteable in the southern part of the forecast region. Snowpack is weak and facetted in most areas. Upper snowpack in alpine areas is able to bridge the facets but sticking to mellow terrain and not bigger features as weak areas are widespread. A few cornices have collapsed over the past week with these larger triggers waking up the deep persistent problems on underlying slopes up to sz 2.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

If this layers if triggered, there is a likelihood of entraining the entire snowpack with it causing a large avalanche

Avoid cross loaded features.Avoid unsupported slopes.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

The big concern is that if anything gets triggered within the snowpack, then the entire snowpack would fail on the basal facets.

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

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 28th, 2017 2:00PM