Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 22nd, 2014 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Conditions are slowly improving but human triggering is still a very real possibility. This is NOT the time to ski large terrain features.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Between 5 and 10cm of new snow is possible by Sunday afternoon. Temperatures should reach -10 degrees with moderate West winds.

Avalanche Summary

A few naturally triggered sluffs have been observed in the past 36hrs up to size 1.5. These occurred on all aspects in steep Treeline and Alpine terrain. A report was received late this afternoon of a skier-triggered avalanche on Mt Engadine. Details are still sketchy, but it sounds like this event occurred on a West aspect at Treeline.

Snowpack Summary

No new snow overnight. Recent storm snow of 20 to 25cm is settling despite the cool temperatures. Soft wind slabs between 20 and 40cm thick have formed in the Alpine, but these seem relatively well bonded to the previous surfaces. The Feb 10th layer persists down 80 to 110cm and continues to give highly variable test results.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs between 20 and 40cm thick are found in the Alpine and high Treeline areas on most aspects. More snow and winds on Sunday could lead to an increase in sensitivity with these slabs.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Avoid cross loaded features.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

The Feb persistent weak layer is buried 80 to 110cm and is giving variable results in stability tests. This interface may be easier to trigger from shallow snowpack areas. If triggered this weakness has the potential to produce large avalanches.

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Mar 23rd, 2014 2:00PM