Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 1st, 2018 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 Persistent Slabs.

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Even though the snowpack appears to be getting better, we have little confidence to explore into bigger terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

Friday is to bring a mix of sunny skies with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures will be around -7c with west winds 50-60km/h. More snow on the way for Saturday.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed on our snow study flight.

Snowpack Summary

We had an extensive look around k-country today by helicopter, dug several pits and did not see any avalanche activity. There is evidence of a lot of wind slab in the alpine and tree line. The January 6 surface hoar layer is down around 60-70cm and is still producing moderate test results but not as widespread as previous. The December 15 SH is still very obvious in the snowpack and is found about 90cm down but in general not producing test results in our snow pits. The big concern though is that this interface is weak and if anything is triggered in the upper snowpack, it would likely step down to the Dec 15 layer.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are extensive in the alpine dow to tree line.

Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopesAvoid freshly wind loaded features.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

We have not seen many avalanches on this layer so far but the load is building and at some point, the scales will tip.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.Avoid convex rolls at and below treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.Carefully evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Feb 2nd, 2018 2:00PM