Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 20th, 2014 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Natural avalanche activity is decreasing but human triggered avalanches are still very likely out there. Use caution as you travel and avoid steeper terrain. Dont get tempted out into bigger terrain features.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Winds are forecast to decrease in intensity over the newxt few days and we can expect 5-8cm of new snow to fall. Temperatures are expected to get cold with daytime highs at 3000m around -20!

Avalanche Summary

No new natural avalanche observations.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snowpack continues to settle but is still producing easy results down 40-60cm on the 0211 interface. This interface is surface hoar in many areas below treeline and facets at treeline and above.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

The snow is settling overtop of the Feb 11th interface but we are still getting lots of settlements and shooting cracks as we travel. As the snow settles, larger propagations will become likely. Continue to use conservative terrain.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are being found in the upper snowpack 30-40cm thick. These slabs are failing in last weeks snow above the feb 11th layer.

Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Feb 21st, 2014 2:00PM