Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 9th, 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.

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Up to 15cm of new snow has spruced up the skiing, but done little to the hazard level so far. Having said that, watch for isolated pockets of wind slab in the Alpine that may be build over the next 12 to 24hrs.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Light flurries tonight will give way to a mostly sunny day on Tuesday and a return to frigid temperatures. The high temperature in the Alpine should reach -22 °C with light NW winds. Wind chill values will be significant. No precipitation is expected for the rest of the week.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new was observed today, but visibility was quite limited.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 15cm of new snow overnight with some minor wind effect in Alpine. The Dec 18th interface is buried 30 to 60cm at Treeline and remains a concern for human triggering. The Nov crust is buried 80 to 100cm deep and is exhibiting facetting both above and below the crust. At lower elevations the snowpack is weak and unsupportive due to prolonged periods of facetting.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

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

Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopesBe aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

More likely to be triggered from thinner areas and step down to the November crust producing larger avalanches.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Jan 10th, 2017 2:00PM