Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 20th, 2019 3:00PM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Hopefully by saturday the cooler temps will arrive and help stabilize the snow. Until then the snowpack will rapidly weaken in the afternoon.

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

The warm weather will continue for a few days yet. Tomorrow has a posted high of 5Â°, but expect them to be a bit higher when the sun is factored in. Clear skies are expected, as are light westerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

Lots of loose wet avalanches in the PM. Any aspect that gets the sun has become reactive by mid day. Of note, many point release avalanches are triggering slabs as they flow.

Snowpack Summary

Widespread crusts in the morning which are quickly breaking down in the early afternoon. Thats the current pattern. What's important to note is the snowpack is still a winter one. Meaning it still has layers buried beneath which could fail. Northern aspects in particular will preserve these layers and keep them active for some time yet. The good news is that the warm weather pattern is predictable.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Warmer temps have woken up this layer. Shallow snowpack areas and cornice triggers are of particular concern. 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

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Loose Wet

Loose wet slides will occur on solar aspects at all elevations as temps warm up. Steep thin areas will be more vulnerable to this type of activity. They may trigger slabs as they gain mass.

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: East, South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely - Certain

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs have become active with the recent heat, and recent avalanches have occurred on all aspects.

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

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 21st, 2019 2:00PM