Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 24th, 2020 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada mkoppang, Avalanche Canada

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Kananaskis.

Warm temps, strong SW winds and new snow are building new windslabs in Alpine and treeline areas. Forecasters backed off there objectives today and thought, it can wait till another day. Be thinking about areas that have not slid and the consequences if it does...

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Cooler temperatures are moving into the region overnight and continued flurries also. Total snowfall will be no more than 10cm but the Moderate SW winds at the upper elevations combined with the warm temps are quickly building new windslabs. Light flurries are forecast to continue through the weekend. 

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today.

Snowpack Summary

The freezing level climbed up to 2200m on Friday with the snow just a touch moist below this elevation. New windslabs were quickly building in open areas at treeline and above and the snowpack had a distinct "cakey" feel with some isolated cracking. Easy sheers were being noted in the new windslabs down 20-30cm and the dec 31st SH/FC layer continues to produce moderate- hard sudden planar sheers down 40-50cm. Any avalanche in the upper snowpack will likely step down the the weak basal layers and be big. Be thinking about consequences.  

Terrain and Travel

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a deep persistent slab.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Warm temps and moderate SW winds are making the windslabs more widespread in the alpine and isolated areas at treeline. Some cracking was observed and it likely continued to build throughout the day. 

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

These are still on the radar. It's worth digging or probing to inspect it. Large triggers are also worth considering, if the bottom layer is disturbed it will be a very big avalanche. 

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Valid until: Jan 25th, 2020 4:00PM

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