Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 7th, 2015 3:00PM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

It's a challenge to find good skiing, but on the flip side conditions are great for longer tours and alpine travel. PW

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Overnight alpine lows will be near -8, and will warm to -4 tomorrow. It will be mainly cloudy but keep an eye out for any solar effect should the sun come out. Ridge top winds will be from the west around 35km/hr tomorrow and no precipitation is expected. The freezing level is expected to climb to 1700m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed today.

Snowpack Summary

Trace amounts of snow today accompanied by moderate winds and mild temperatures have not changed the hazard levels. Existing alpine surfaces are windslabs of various densities. At treeline wind slabs up to 20cm and of varying densities exist in immediate lee features at ridge tops and open treeline areas. Below treeline is still a breakable crust buried beneath 5-10 cm's of snow. It was mainly cloudy today, but the sun did make a periodic appearance and although brief it's effect is strong at this time of year. Combined with mild temps there maybe a slight crust tomorrow morning on steeper solar aspects to 2300m.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

With the forecasted mild temps in the alpine, be aware of the strong effect of the sun this time of year should it appear. Large triggers such as cornices will weaken and could trigger this basal weakness.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Wind Slabs

Winds will be shifting to the west. Evaluate lee features, but be mindful of the northerly winds we just had.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and in terrain depressions>Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 8th, 2015 3:00PM