Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 18th, 2014 3:00PM

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

Alberta Parks mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

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Kananaskis.

A weak freeze is forecast overnight and clear skies are forecast for Saturday.  The snowpack will deteriorate quickly on Saturday, especially on Solar aspects so early starts and early finishes are key.  Pay close attention to temperature and aspect.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated convective flurries throughout the day on Saturday.  Winds are expected to increase overnight and begin to push into the strong range out of the SW.  Freezing levels again forecast to be around 2100m.  The cloud cover will minimize any overnight freeze so watch for stability to deteriorate earlier in the day on Saturday,

Avalanche Summary

Lots of loose wet pinwheeling was observed as well as 2 recent size 2 slabs at ridgelines in steep rocky terrain.

Snowpack Summary

A few cms of new snow overnight adds to the previous 20cm snow that has fallen over the past week.  On any aspects but true north this new snow has been fast to settle but on polar aspects in Alpine areas, there is still a very wintery snowpack.  The freezing level on Friday was at 2100m and below this the snow was wet and moist to ground.  Winds have been suprisingly calm but there was evidence of a windslab being formed at immediate ridgelines in the Alpine.  The basal facets are waking up with the warm temperatures of late and we are starting to see some larger avalanche or at least the potential for larger avalanches to occur.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Along ridgelines , ridgecrests and in gullied terrain expect to encounter these problems
Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet
Steeper terrain at treeline on all aspects and up to ridgelines on solar aspects.
Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs
This deep instability can become a problem with increased amounts of sun and or rain.  Have in your mind the "what ifs" of a large avalanche.
Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Apr 19th, 2014 2:00PM

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