Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 8th, 2015 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Start early and finish early to take advantage of good overnight freezes and avoid moist snow in the afternoon. Travel conditions are fast and easy, and great skiing can be found on sheltered north aspects.

Summary

Confidence

Good - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

A good freeze is expected tonight with Thursday bringing sunny skies and mild temperatures. Winds will remain light out of the west and freezing levels are expected to reach 2200m. Friday should be much the same, but the winds will pick up considerably. Saturday may see some light precipitation.

Avalanche Summary

A few solar triggered sluffs occurred this afternoon up to size 1.5. A few slab avalanches have occurred on steep alpine features on N and E aspects in the past 24 to 36hrs. These generally occurred immediately below cliff bands and ranged between 25 and 50cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

Polar aspects continue to hold up to 30cm of low density snow. Isolated wind effect and small pockets of wind slab are found in alpine areas immediately below ridgecrest. Moist snow on solar aspects up to mountaintop and on all aspects below 2100m by midday.

Problems

Loose Wet

The April sun is powerful and leads to rapid melting on solar aspects through the day. Avoid exposure to these slopes when the snow is wet or moist, and be aware of overhead slopes and cornices.

Avoid steep slopes below cornices.>Avoid steep Southerly aspects.>Start and finish early before the surface crusts melt.>

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

Isolated pockets of wind slab exist immediately below ridge crest in alpine features. Some recent slab activity has been observed on N and E aspects.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

The basal weak layers have been dormant for some time, but with the snowpack warming up each day thin snowpack areas in steep terrain are still a concern for triggering.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Apr 9th, 2015 2:00PM