Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 12th, 2018 3:44PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Tuesday is forecast to be the hottest day of the week. The avalanche hazard will deteriorate quickly with the impact of the sun. Avoid exposure to large solar slopes.

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

Tuesday is forecast for another sunny day with the freezing level going up to 3000m. Winds are suppose to be light out of the West. Wednesday will see more warming and the freezing level should reach 2500m. Snow is forecast for the latter part of the week.

Avalanche Summary

Several loose wet avalanches up to 1.5 on solar aspects.

Snowpack Summary

We are expecting Tuesday to be the warmest day of the week with freezing levels rising to 3000m.Â The avalanche hazard will deteriorate with the daytime heating.Â Avoid being near large sun exposed slopes.Â Wind slabs are present in the alpine and isolated areas at tree line.Â Expect a melt freeze crust first thing in the morning and moist snow by mid day on solar aspects.

Problems

Loose Wet

Solar aspects will have a crust in the morning and be moist by mid-day.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.Avoid ice climbs exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects during the middle of the day.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Most prominent along lee features.

Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopes

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

Cornices could start to fail if they see a lot of sun. These kinds of large triggers could cause the deep layers to fail.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Valid until: Mar 13th, 2018 2:00PM