Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 14th, 2018 3:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs, Loose Dry and Storm Slabs.

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

New snow is coming tomorrow. Expect great skiing if we get the forecasted amounts.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

We're expecting a storm to roll through tonight with snow starting by early morning. Overnight lows will fall to -6, and by tomorrow, they'll fall further to -10 at treeline. The first pulse of this storm will bring us 21cm of snow by late day tomorrow. Another pulse will follow on saturday, but it will only leave 5cm. The winds will spike early on in the storm and max out at 45km/hr.

Avalanche Summary

A couple of small, cornice triggered loose wet avalanches were noted today. Their exact age is unknown, but suspected in the last 36 hours.

Snowpack Summary

Freezing levels went very high today. One of the radio repeater sites recorded a temp of +4 by mid afternoon. Only high, true north aspects are escaping the heat and moist snow. Expect a widespread crust pretty much everywhere. It will be more pronounced at low elevations and/or solar aspects. The freeze thaw cycle is helping the upper snowpack consolidate and become stronger. The deeper layers are deep enough that they'll remain unchanged from the warming cycle. Cornices and wind lips have been collapsing lately as well.

Problems

Wind Slabs

These will be fresh windslabs formed from gusting winds. They may slide easily if sitting on a crust.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

This will be more of an issue in areas that has a frozen crust underneath. They could run far and fast.

Avoid travelling under cliffs that are exposed to sluffing from above.Sluffs will be easy to trigger in steep terrain that is sheltered from the wind

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Storm Slabs

As the storm starts, the new snow will bond quickly as the remaining heat escapes from the snowpack. The air temp will also play a role especially if it snows before it cools off completely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 15th, 2018 2:00PM