Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 16th, 2019 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Solar radiation is forecast to be strong on Sunday. Solar aspects will see stability decrease as temperatures warm up. Pay close attention to temps and aspect as you travel.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

No new snow is forecast overnight and freezing levels are supposed to be around 2300m.Â The sun is forecast to come out tomorrow with less clouds forecast so be thinking about what aspect you are on related to the time of day.Â Done be on solar aspects later in the day as stability will be getting worse due to heat in these areas.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was observed observed over the past 24hrs except for isolated loose dry slides from steep unskiable terrain.Â Clouds kept the temperature cool and loose wet slides were not a major issue.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels on Saturday climbed up to 2200m with isolated moist snow in areas below this elevation.Â The previous warm temps have created widespread temperature crusts on solar aspects up to 3000m. Windslabs from the moderate SW winds on Friday are evident in alpine terrain up to 20cm thick. These slabs are overlying the previous facetted surface and if they initiate, they are quick to entrain the weak lower snowpack and run far. Watch for these wind slabs overlying this weak facetted base and also be aware of awakening the lower down basal facets from a thin weak area.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Windslabs are being found in Alpine terrain and isolated areas at TL up to 20cm thick.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Watch for loose wet slides on solar aspects as temps warm up. Steep thin areas will be more vulnerable to this type of activity.

If triggered the loose wet sluffs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.

Aspects: South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

This layer is still concerning and could be woken up by a skier/rider in a thin shallow snowpack area, warmer temps with some solar radiation or a cornice failure. This problem deserves respect as any resulting avalanche will be full depth.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 17th, 2019 2:00PM