Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 5th, 2016 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Between 5-14 cm of new snow is forecast to fall over the next 24hrs. This snow will fall under the influence of STRONG chinook flow so watch for new windslabs to build in alpine areas.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

Overnight on FridayFlurries.Accumulation: 8 cm.Alpine temperature: Low -6 C.Ridge wind southwest: 75 km/h gusting to 115 km/h.Freezing level at valley bottom.Saturday throuhgout the day. Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.Precipitation: Trace.Alpine temperature: High -7 C.Ridge wind west: 50 km/h gusting to 110 km/h.Freezing level at valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was observed on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Below 1900m, the temperature crust from last week is now buried by 8cm of snow. This crust is unlikely to pose any problems down the road. The snowpack has regained some of it strength down low and is now more supportive in many areas. At treeline, the windslabs start to become evident in open areas or areas exposed to wind. Windslabs are down 20cm and only an issue in isolated areas. The Jan 6th layer is down 50-70cm at upper treeline and is hanging in there in terms of strength with the other layers. The alpine is either weak and facetted or a series of laminated windslabs. The exposure to wind seems to be the deciding factor.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs both on the surface and buried are being encountered at treeline and above. New windslabs will be building if the forecasted new snow arrives.

Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded features>Avoid unsupported slopes.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Persistent slabs up to 80cm thick are are widespread in Alpine lee features and in more specific areas at treeline. Touchy in shallow areas

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Feb 6th, 2016 2:00PM