Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 9th, 2017 3:09PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

There are many features in the alpine such as cross loaded gullies and lee features that are primed for human triggering.

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

Friday will see 6cm of snow with a high temperature in the alpine of -6c. West ridge winds of 25km/hr with gusts to 50km/hr. Freezing level of 1700m for Friday.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed.

Snowpack Summary

Wind effected snow in the alpine. Cornices are large and if they fail, they can wake up the deeper layers. The weakest part of the snowpack is still the basal facets and depth hoar.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Lee and cross loaded features are especially loaded and look primed for human triggering.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

An avalanche initiated in the upper snowpack could step down to a deeper weak layer.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Cornices

Several cornice failures over the past week have triggered deep and large avalanches.

Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach run out zones.Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger persistent slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 10th, 2017 2:00PM