Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 19th, 2024 1:30PM

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

Mikey, Avalanche Canada

Kananaskis, Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, North 40, Spray - KLakes.

Some light snow amounts to freshen up the landscape.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported but there are lots of signs of recent activity from the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find the new snow(5-10cm) lying on top of an extensive frozen crust at all elevations, especially on solar aspects. This crust is providing strong bridging over any weak layers. On the shady aspects, there are older lingering surface wind slabs under this new snow that one should pay attention to. Both the persistent slab and the deep persistent slab could still be triggered on steep open alpine features. Take the time to dig and investigate these buried layers. You might see some sluffing in steep terrain with this new snow.

Weather Summary

Snow and slight cooling is the recipe. This next weather system seems to have stalled a bit but there is hope. Models are showing 5-10cm for Wednesday with light to moderate SW winds. Alpine temperatures will climb to -1c. Freezing level is expected to be 2100m. More cooling on Wednesday night with snow on Thursday.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Conditions may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

This layer is the Feb 2 crust (down 40-90cm) that has facets around it and is still a concern on polar aspects.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

This layer is the basal facets that is still a concern on polar aspects