Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
Happy Valentines Day! Consider giving Mother Nature some chocolate this Valentines day and write a note asking for a bit more snow for the duration of the season!
Temperatures are finally warming up from the deep freeze but with little in the way of new snow over the past few weeks the skiing opportunities are limited. Good skiing can be found in sheltered terrain though if you are willing to hunt for it!
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
The light snowfall that is forecast overnight will not do too much to change the current avalanche danger. Widespread wind slabs in the alpine from 10-40cm with some areas having a 10cm hard wind slab. The January 30 interface(crust/facets/surface hoar) is present about 20-40cm down but mostly producing hard test results which were non-planar. The midpack is supportive in most places, but in rocky areas it has become very weak and "punchy" while walking/skiing. Be careful while travelling in thin steep terrain where triggering the windslab may be easier.
Weather Summary
See table
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully evaluate big and steep terrain features before committing to them.
- Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Avoid steep terrain that is rocky and thin.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Avoid hollow feeling windslabs in alpine terrain, especially near thin or convex terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2