Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 17th, 2012 9:00AM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Light snowfalls are expected throughout the weekend. The latest snowpack report is also now up on facebook http://ow.ly/98U5W.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

Light snowfalls are expected throughout the weekend period as the ridge of high pressure that was over us on Friday begins to move eastwards. Total snowfall amounts are likely to only be 2-4cm throughout the day on Saturday. Winds are forecast to increase into the moderate range out of the SW.

Avalanche Summary

Loose dry sluffing up to size 1 with skier traffic in steeper terrain. Evidence of a Skier accidental size 1 at 2800m on an NE aspect on Tent Ridge. Slide was 10m wide, 30cm deep and ran 30m. The slide occurred just below ridgeline in one of the large crossloaded bowls.

Snowpack Summary

0213 Surface hoar/Crust layer down 10-15cm depending on aspect and elevation. Isolated wind slabs being encountered in alpine terrain in the immediate lees of ridgelines. These slabs are most apparent on N and E aspects. Midpack well settled. Basal FC and DH still in our thoguhts especially in bigger terrain features. Still potential to trigger these weaknesses from thin or shallow snowpack areas, especially in steeper terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Skier triggerable windslabs are being observed along ridgelines in Alpine areas and in isolated terrain features such as gullies and cross-loaded bowls at treeline. Skier accidental slab in the tent ridge area. Details in the Avalanche section.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Loose unconsolidated surface snow is sluffing easily with skier traffic in steeper terrain. This snow could easily knock a skier down carrying them into a tree or other hazard.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Weak facets and depth hoar still linger at the base of the snowpack. Thin steep areas are places skiers should be thinking about possibly triggering this basal problem. Even though danger is rated as moderate, be thinking about consequences.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Feb 18th, 2012 9:00AM