Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 6 – 7, 2017Alberta Parks
View on map
Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map

Highlights

Storm slabs are sensitive to human triggering and a natural avalanche cycle continues. Use caution on and around recently loaded slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Several cornice failures have occurred in the past 3 days which have triggered deep and large avalanches.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    An avalanche initiated in the upper snowpack could step down to a deeper weak layer.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Storm slabs between 40 and 65cm thick are found in lee and cross-loaded features at Treeline and above. Natural avalanche activity associated to this problem continues, and many slopes appear primed for human-triggering.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will be cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures will reach a high of -15 C, with ridge-top winds out of the SW at 15-30 km/h. Wednesday could see a weak snow storm with accumulations near 5cm.

Avalanche Summary

Several natural and cornice triggered avalanches up to size 3.0 have occurred over the past 72hrs, in some cases running full path. Avalanche control on Mt. Rundle produced good results up to size 2.5. A public report on the Mountain Information Network (MIN) describes a cornice triggered size 3.0 avalanche in the Tryst Lake area with a very wide propagation. This slide may have also sympathetically triggered additional smaller avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Recent storm snow totals now average 50cm at Treeline. Storm slabs have formed in lee and cross-loaded features in the Alpine and at Treeline and seem prime for human-triggering in many areas. Cornices are large and several failures have occurred in recent days. Extensive wind transport at ridge-crest.

Regions covered