Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 12th, 2016 7:55AM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Status quo out there in the land of K-Country. The drought persists and no significant snowfall is forecast. Climbers and skiers still need to watch out for the loose dry avalanche issue when venturing out onto the bigger slopes and tight gulleys.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy for wednesday with light flurries. Winds will be out the west 30km/h with gusts to 50km/h. Freezing levels at valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed - expect sluffing of the recrystallized facets in the upper snowpack to react to ski traffic.

Snowpack Summary

Minor wind effect observed in the alpine. Northerly winds have stripped snow off of north aspects and re-distributed on southerly aspects. The upper 3rd of the snowpack is completely facetted out at all aspects and elevations apart from areas of wind slabs in the immediate lee of ridgetop.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Dry

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 13th, 2016 2:00PM