Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 23rd, 2018 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.

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

No snow and high winds are making the alpine elevations less and less appealing for skiing or climbing. Good snow can be found in sheltered treeline areas.

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

Overnight low of -19C with moderate west winds. Tomorrow will be another windy day with gusts reaching 55km/hr. No snow is expected. Temps will rise to -14C in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing on the Spray, but the shallow front ranges and Bow Valley now have depth hoar and facet avalanches running in very steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Not much has changed in the last day. The winds continue to have their way with the alpine snowpack. But unless the winds shift, no more damage can be done since all available snow has been blown away. Treeline is still a mixed bag of decent soft snow and old wind slabs that are faceting(weakening) out with the cold. Below treeline remains the same. None of the persistent layers have become reactive in the last 24 hours. For the most part, these layers are down about a meter and are within a 10-15cm range of each other. For simplicity, we are collectively calling these 3 layers a deep persistent slab problem. Cornices have grown considerably, but at this point they're hanging in there with no failures noted.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Facetting is helping ease this problem at treeline. The alpine on the other hand is still covered in windslabs.

Evaluate unsupported slopes critically.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

Large triggers are a concern. It's safe to say we're in the "low probability/high consequence" situation.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Valid until: Feb 24th, 2018 2:00PM