Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 15th, 2017 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Despite the Moderate hazard rating, forecasters are still making conservative choices in Alpine terrain. The deeply buried weak layers are not going to heal quickly!

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Monday will be cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Temperatures will reach -6 °C in the Alpine with strong Westerly winds. A weak system is approaching on Tuesday with light snowfall accumulations expected Tuesday and Wednesday.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported in past 25hrs.

Snowpack Summary

Variable depth wind slabs are found in Alpine terrain and just down into Treeline. Recent snowpack tests indicate failures in the moderate range down 35cm, as well as on the Nov crust layer buried deeply in the snowpack. Much of the snowpack is very weak and facetted, especially at lower elevations. Any avalanche that is initiated in the upper snowpack will likely step down and involve the entire snowpack.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Snow and wind over the past week have created wind slabs up to 35cm thick immediately below ridge crests on all aspects. These slabs are on all aspects as a result of the Northerly flow this past week.

Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopesEvaluate unsupported slopes critically.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

More likely to be triggered from thinner areas and step down to the basal facets and involve the entire winters snowpack.

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 16th, 2017 2:00PM