Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 20th, 2016 7:33AM

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

Alberta Parks mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Winds and Temps are both expected to increase on Thursday so we can expect avalanche danger to also increase.  Precip amounts are uncertain as well as timing of the incoming storm so watch for danger to increase throughout the day.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Track of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

We can expect another 10cm of snow over the next few days but we can also expect the winds to increase into the strong range out of the SW.  With this rising winds and influx of new snow we can expect to slowly see the avalanche danger begin to increase.  Expect the snow to begin again late in the day on Thursday with the arrival of this latest frontal system.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed today but conditions were obscured for the better part of the day.

Snowpack Summary

5-7cm of new snow fell across the region today with generally light winds.  This new snow is very low density and easily moveable by recent winds which have been generally light out of the SW but occasional periods of moderate winds have created some new windslabs at higher elevations.  The Jan 6th interface is now down 25-30cm throughout the region and as the load increases on this layer, the human triggerability of this layer will also increase.  Ridgelines, and gullied terrain in the Alpine will be areas to be cautious.  Any slab that initiates in the Alpine terrain will likely entrain the loose facets as it travels down slope and run quite far so use caution and dont underestimate the runout potential. 

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
New windslabs are building in Alpine areas and at treeline in the new snow.  The Jan 6th layer is down 20-30cm in general and with the new load is becoming more sensitive to human triggering
Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry
Loose dry facetlanches have the ability to run far and fast. 
Be very cautious with gully features.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 21st, 2016 2:00PM