Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 11th, 2013 3:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Cornices.

burke.duncan, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

A Pacific storm pushing into the Central Rockies is going to bring moderately heavy snowfall to the region beginning Friday. It has already been preceded by moderate snowfall on Thursday with mild temps and mod-strong SW winds forming soft slabs.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Weather Forecast

An upper low pushing in from the west is going to bring clouds and mixed light precip to the region by Friday afternoon. Snowfall rates will increase over Friday night on into Saturday. Total forecasted precip by Sunday is in the range of 25-30mm of water equivalent (=@25-30cm snow!).

Avalanche Summary

No new reported and now new obs due to obscured conditions.

Snowpack Summary

Moderately heavy snowfall began early Thursday AM and kept up most of the day. At least 10cm of storm snow at treeline by 1500 hours Thursday PM. Daytime highs crept close to zero degrees so rapid formation of soft slabs anticipated.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm slabs between 10-40cm thick are present in lee and cross-loaded features at higher elevations. These slabs are still sensitive to human triggering, especially where they sit on a old crust layer. Moderate SW winds are forming new storms slabs

Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Cornices

Cornices are large and sagging. Recent cornice failures have been triggering slabs on the underlying slopes. Be aware of overhead exposure especially during times of intense solar radiation or rain.

Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 5

Valid until: Apr 12th, 2013 2:00PM