Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2017 3:26PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Snow and wind are increasing the hazard. Careful route selection is recommended.

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

An additional 10cm snow is forecast Saturday night with moderate winds. On Sunday, light snow and ridge tops winds of 15km/h with gust up to 40 km/h. Alpine temperatures are expected to be -9c.

Avalanche Summary

Very limited observations due to poor visibility. We are expecting some loose/dry and slab avalanches associated with these conditions.

Snowpack Summary

We have had up to 50cm of snow in the alpine in the last few days. Wind associated with this snowfall is creating storm slabs in the alpine and open areas (in places, these wind slabs may be buried). Cross loaded features and lee pockets can have significantly more snow creating even deeper storm slabs. Cornices are growing and have the potential to wake up deeper layers if they break off. Human triggered avalanches are very likely right now. Sheltered and non-exposed areas can provide good skiing.

Problems

Wind Slabs

We're using wind slabs as a catch all term at the moment. Storm slabs are out there from the new snow and continuing winds , as are the deeper buried windslabs from last week. Storm slabs are in immediate lees, and the wind slabs are more widespread.

Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopesAvoid freshly wind loaded features.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Additional load will increase the chance of this layer waking up.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Similar to the persistent problem above, the new load may make this layer "touchier". Another consideration is a smaller avalanche triggering the deeper layers.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 5th, 2017 2:00PM