Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 25th, 2018 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Winds are forecast to increase in the coming days so watch for the windslabs in alpine terrain to become more reactive and widespread. A spring snowpack is still a ways off.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud is forecast for monday with light isolated flurries.Â The winds are supposed to ramp up on tuesday into the strong range so we expect the ski quality in alpine areas to diminsh over the coming days....Temps will be below average with daytime highs are -5C

Avalanche Summary

Loose dry sluffing up to sz 1 was observed from steeper alpine areas.Â No new slab activity was observed.

Snowpack Summary

10-20cm of snow has fallen over the past 48hrs with NW winds at higher elevations creating new thin windslabs as well as burying the previous ones.Â These windslabs are easy to find in alpine terrain and are 20-40cm thick. What natural avalanche activity we did see on before the weekend showed these windslabs failing mainly on N and E aspects in steeper terrain or in unsupported features. Field test were showing an easy to moderate sheer at the interface of the windslabs with the underlying snow. Be heads up in steeper areas and choose supported terrain.Â The best skiing will be on N aspects due to crusts on solar aspects. Despite cooler temperatures, when the sun does come out it has lots of punch so be thinking about the affects of solar radiation later in the day.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Windslabs in alpine areas along ridgelines and crossloaded features. Watch for these at the entrances to runs.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Cornices

Overhead cornices loom along ridgelines. As daytime temps warm up, these will become weak and have potential to collapse.

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger deep slabs.Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 26th, 2018 2:00PM