Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 30th, 2014 9:19AM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Skiing is great, but conservative route selection is required! Three people were fully buried in a skier-triggered avalanche on Sunday, but all are OK. Also be aware of intense solar radiation at this time of year that will destabilize the snowpack.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Convective flurries are possible over the next few days. When the sun is shining it will pack a punch. Winds should remain light from the SW for Monday. Temperatures remain below seasonal with highs near -6 degrees Monday in the Alpine.

Avalanche Summary

Several naturally triggered loose dry avalanches up to size 1.0 on all aspects at all elevations occurred today.A size 2.0 skier triggered avalanche occurred on a steep North aspect on Hero's Knob this afternoon. This avalanche was triggered at 2200m and ran approximately 300m down into the valley. Total in party: 6, total involved: 5, complete burials: 3. All 3 persons buried were over one metre deep. Rescue initiated by own party and by by-standers. All 3 complete burials were extricated within 10 to 15 minutes. Only one person suffered minor injuries. All members of the party are accounted for. This avalanche occurred on the Feb 10th persistent weak layer and produced a very deep fracture line.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 25cm of new snow overnight. This new snow sits on a crust solar aspects and on preserved stellars on Northerly aspects. The new snow is sluffing in steep terrain. This new snow brings total storm snow in the last several days to over 70cm. The Feb 10th persistent weak layer is buried 90 to 120cm and is still reactive to stability tests.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

The Feb 10th persistent weak layer is still a concern. It is buried 90 to 120cm in the snowpack and remains reactive to stability tests. A very serious skier-triggered avalanche occurred on this layer on Sunday (see Avalanche Activity for details).

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Wind Slabs

Previously formed wind slabs are buried under recent new snow. These are found in lee and cross-loaded features in the Alpine and open areas at Treeline.

Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Use caution in lee areas in the alpine. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 31st, 2014 2:00PM