Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 23rd, 2015 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The snowpack is in transition to full spring conditions, but is not entirely there yet. Keep an eye on intense solar radiation and daytime heating and their destabilizing effects on the snowpack.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. Temperatures will remain mild with freezing levels near 2000m. Winds will be out of the NW at 30km/h.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed today.

Snowpack Summary

6 to 10cm new snow in the past 24hrs at treeline. This overlies a dense supportive layer (rain crust at lower elevations) at treeline and below. Minor sluffing in steep terrain with skier traffic. Solar radiation is intense even when only in isolated bursts, which is producing moist snow on solar aspects at all elevations. Wind slabs are still present in the alpine and these reach into isolated areas at treeline. The basal weak layers remain a concern in steep and shallow snowpack areas.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Lee and cross-loaded features are present in the alpine and in isolated features at treeline.

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

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Loose Wet

Loose wet avalanches are possible at lower elevations and on solar aspects especially when the sun shining and the daytime temperatures are warm.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.>

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The basal weak layers remain a concern for triggering steep and shallow snowpack features.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Mar 24th, 2015 2:00PM