Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 2nd, 2017 3:30PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Snow and strong winds are building the wind slabs. Careful route finding to minimize exposure is recommended.

Summary

Confidence

Weather Forecast

Continued moderate to strong winds from the SW are forecast well into Saturday.Â Friday's forecast indicates 12cm of snow and alpine temperature up to -6c.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches observed today.Â This will probably change with the forecasted snow and continued winds.

Snowpack Summary

Continued moderate to strong SW winds are building the wind slabs in the alpine and open areas at tree line.Â Lee features and cross loaded gullies are very loaded and touchy.Â With the forecasted snow and continued winds, the likelihood of triggering an avalanche is increasing.A snow profile was dug today at tree line at Burstall Pass showing us that the lower half of the snowpack is weak consisting mostly of depth hoar.Â Test results indicated failure in the depth hoar 75cm off the ground.Â This is a concern as there is a well settled snowpack above this weak layer and if triggered from a weak spot, there could be a very large avalanche.

Problems

Wind Slabs

This wind slab problem includes the last 2-3 days. Continued winds are seen moving snow well into the tree line.

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

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

The buried hard slab and/or facet layer is still intact. Convex terrain at treeline seems to be the most troubling areas.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

This layer is weak and should not be trusted.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 3rd, 2017 2:00PM