Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 14th, 2015 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

New snow is falling at higher elevations at this time and strong SW winds are creating fresh storm slabs. Temperature are forecast to cool overnight and throughout Sunday. Ski conditions still remain quite rugged.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain on Sunday

Weather Forecast

Freezing levels are forecast to begin to drop tonight as the main bulk of the precipitation passes over us. Winds are expected to ease into the light range as the front passes. We may see another 8cm of snow fall overnight giving us an expected storm snow total of 15cm.

Avalanche Summary

Only a few loose wet slides were observed on Saturday. Conditions were obscured for most of the day.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 7cm of snow fell throughout the day on Saturday with moderate westerly winds at treeline and above. New thin storm slabs are building on north and east aspects. These new slabs are overlying a variety of different snow surfaces depending on aspect at elevation. In the Alpine, they are overlying temperature crusts on all aspects except for true north. At treeline they are overlying widespread temperature crusts. Below this elevation most of the recent precipitation fell as rain. In many areas down low, the snowpack is isothermal.

Problems

Storm Slabs

New storm slabs are building along ridgelines. and in gullied terrain in the Alpine and at treeline.

Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Weak layers at the base of the snowpack may still be triggerred from variable or thin snowpack areas.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Mar 15th, 2015 2:00PM