Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 17th, 2012 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Loose Wet, Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Not quite as sunny today as originally expected, but solar triggering is the biggest concern with the spring conditions. Sunny periods will be intense and can cause a rapid rise in avalanche danger on solar aspects. Start early and finish early.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Convective flurries again on Wednesday with sunny periods. Temperatures will be slightly cool in the alpine reaching near -9 degrees. Winds will be light to moderate switching form SW to W to NW.

Avalanche Summary

Snowpack Summary

Problems

Loose Wet

Crusts will break down and loose wet slides will occur on solar aspects each day as daytime heating and solar radiation increase. Over the last couple of days avalanches began to occur between 10:00 and 11:00am. Plan your travel accordingly.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Wind Slabs

Recent winds have formed pockets of wind slab 20 to 50cm thick along ridgelines and in cross loaded features at higher elevations. A recent skier remote triggered avalanche in the Lake Louise area occurred on this layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Deep Persistent Slabs

Weak crystals still linger at the base of the snowpack that could wake up from large triggers such as cornices or a smaller avalanches stepping down. Any avalanche occurring this deep in the snowpack would have devastating consequences for a skier.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

4 - 7

Valid until: Apr 18th, 2012 9:00AM