Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 16th, 2013 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The cooler temps have frozen the low elevation snowpack in place. Expect tough skiing up to 2000m. Windslabs and their bond with underlying areas are suspect. Use the terrain wisely and slowly build your trust in the snowpack. MM

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

The cooling trend will continue throughout the next few days. We expect a few mild convective storm cells to pass through. These may give 10cm's over the rest of the week-end.

Avalanche Summary

Natural cycle has ended. No new observations.

Snowpack Summary

A cooler day has frozen the moist surface snow below 1900m. Snow underneath the new crust cooling, however temps haven't been cold enough or sustained enough to reach deep into the snowpack. TL elevations still have snow available for transport, and with that windslabs on lee aspects. In general the snowpack has tightened up at TL & BTL elevations.

Problems

Wind Slabs

New windslabs are present in ALP & TL areas. Human triggering is still a concern. These slabs sit on a variety of different layers which are variable depending on elevation. Slab reactivity will also vary. Good terrain choices will be key for awhile.

Avoid cross loaded slopes at or above treeline.>Be alert to conditions that change with elevation.>Stay off recent wind loaded areas until the slope has had a chance to stabilize.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 17th, 2013 2:00PM