Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 10 – 11, 2018Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

It will take some time for the snowpack to adjust to the warming event that is occurring. Be very mindful of overhead hazard and your terrain choices as the day heats up and the solar radiation peaks. Hazard could be HIGH on sunny slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5
    Lots of wind slabs in the Alpine and along ridgelines at Treeline.  Steep and unsupported terrain should be considered suspect.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Steep, rocky terrain will hold the sun's heat and cause loose wet avalanches to become a concern by midday. They could be a problem in themselves, but they could also act as a trigger for slabs.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3.5
    Cornices could start to fail if they see a lot of sun. These kinds of large triggers could cause the deep layers to fail.

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Sunday will be another sunny and warm day with virtually no wind. Freezing levels should climb to at least 2200m. Monday and Tuesday will see continued warming with freezing levels reaching 2700m by Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

Some pinwheeling on steep solar aspects and several loose wet avalanches up to size 1.0.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs of various densities are present in Alpine and Treeline areas on lee and cross-loaded features. Moist snow on steep solar aspects in the Alpine and on all aspects except polar below 2100m. The snowpack is settling.

Regions covered