Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 24th, 2014 8:01AM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

We are at the mercy of the overnight lows these days. Monitor the overnight temps to help with snowpack decisions. The overnight recovery (ie. good freeze equals good recovery) will determine the next day's snowpack conditions.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

The overall temperature trend will be rising with little overnight change. The freezing level for the coming days will be about 2000m each day. No precip or significant weather until Friday night. There is a small front moving through that may give 10cm's of snow at higher elevations and rain/sleet at lower elevations. Winds won't be a problem as they're expected to stay in the light/moderate range.

Avalanche Summary

We have an ongoing cycle that is directly related to the daytime heating. Most areas at treeline and below become isotheral and wet avalanches occur daily. There have been a number of large avalanches in the past while on the basal layers.

Snowpack Summary

Spring conditions are in full swing these days. The freeze thaw cycles have just reached into the alpine for the past few days. The near surface layers are all going through daily freeze/thaw cycles. The entire snowpack is rapidly settling as the weather stays warm. The basal layers (the Oct10th in particular) have woken up in the last three days. There have been some large avalanches on this layer in the alpine lately.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Warms temperatures are a very likely trigger for this layer. Related to that, falling cornices are expected triggers. Deeper snowpack areas have more resistance to both of these triggers. Avoid shallow areas and watch temperature trends closely.

Make your travel plans to take advantage of overnight freezing.>Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices.>Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

3 - 6

Loose Wet

The freeze on the night of the 24th may not be very strong. We can expect to loose the freeze early in the day.

Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 25th, 2014 2:00PM