Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 28th, 2015 7:23AM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The "LOW" rating does not rule out all avalanche potential. Avalanches are possible in extreme terrain and on some isolated features.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Sunday should be a mostly sunny day with light west winds. Temperatures should climb to near -9 in the Alpine. Light snowfalls are expected on Monday as a cold front pushes through and brings below seasonal temperatures.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is highly variable across the forecast region, but some common themes include: widespread wind effect and wind slabs in the Alpine and open areas at Treeline, and various layers of crust found on all aspects below 2000m and much higher on solar aspects. The weak basal layers remain a fixture of the snowpack throughout the region and full depth avalanches are still an outside possibility in certain terrain features. Large triggers such as cornices are the main concern in this respect. Solar input at this time of year is becoming significant, and is causing melt freeze cycles on steeper solar slopes. The extent of these melting periods is variable from day to day depending on climatic conditions.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Variable wind slabs are found in the Alpine. Dense slabs are quite common near ridge crest. In most cases a series of multiple slabs are "laminated" together. Inspect these surfaces as you travel.

Avoid traveling on ledges and cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The weak basal layers are still prominent in the forecast area. The probability of triggering this deep weakness is low, but the resulting avalanches could be very large. Large triggers such as cornices could trigger this weakness.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 1st, 2015 2:00PM