Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 26th, 2015 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Tuesday should be a cooler day, but it is difficult to say how much the snowpack will re-freeze and stabilize. Keep a close eye on temperatures and solar radiation. Also, be mindful of touchy wind slabs at higher elevations. Ski quality is poor.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will be a cooler day with Alpine temperatures near -3 celsius and freezing levels at 1800m. Winds will be strong out of the west and no precipitation is expected. Wednesday will see a further cooling trend and the winds will shift to the NW.

Avalanche Summary

Several solar and/or heat induced loose wet avalanches were observed today up to size 2.0. These occurred on all aspects except true North.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is settling as temperatures remained above freezing at Treeline elevations overnight. The snowpack is isothermal at lower elevations and in shallow snowpack regions, and is not supportive to travel. Wind slabs are prevalent in the Alpine and upper Treeline elevations due to previous extreme SW to W winds.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are prevalent in Alpine and Treeline areas with a variety of slab thicknesses. Human triggering is a real possibility and caution is advised in lee and cross-loaded terrain.

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

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

Tuesday is expected to be much cooler, but solar triggered slides are still possible. Keep an eye on the temperatures and radiation and how this relates to the terrain around you. Ice climbers should avoid gully features on solar aspects.

Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up. >Avoid travelling on ledges and cliffs where sluffing may have severe consequences.>Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.>

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Recent avalanches have stepped down to the December crust or the November weak basal layers.

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Jan 27th, 2015 2:00PM