Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 30th, 2013 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Forecasters have very little confidence in the snowpack due to the persistent basal weakness of facets and depth hoar. This winter is much different than last season. Conservative route selection is a must.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Cloudy conditions will continue for the next day or two with light snow accumulations of up to 5cm. Winds remain in the strong to extreme range from the West. Alpine temperatures will be near -8 degrees on Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

Several loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5 were observed today on steep North and East aspects in the Alpine.

Snowpack Summary

Recent HST has been redistributed to lee and cross-loaded features due to extreme West winds. Wind slabs are now prevalent in Alpine and open areas at treeline. The weak basal facets and depth hoar remain a major concern in the snowpack as this weak layer now has significant slabs overlying it.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Avalanches could step down to the October layer and involve the entire winters snowpack, especially in shallow snowpack areas. In some areas a dense wind slab overlies this deeply buried weak layer. Large and destructive avalanches are possible.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are found in open areas at Treeline and in the Alpine. These slabs will react differently to human-triggering, depending on what lies beneath them.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Dec 31st, 2013 2:00PM