Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 13th, 2018 3:00PM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

If solar input is stronger than expected, recognize that the danger elevation will rise proportionally.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Temps will be slightly cooler tomorrow. Freezing levels will be around 2400m. There will also be more cloud tomorrow, which should help with the moist snow situation. Winds will continue to be light. No precip is expected.

Avalanche Summary

Control runs today saw small slabs in the alpine that eventually entrained warm snow as they crept downhill. There was also a high alpine windslab avalanche noted in the Goat range. It was a sz2, E asp, 2800m start elevation.

Snowpack Summary

Another day of warm temps and strong solar input have helped settle the snowpack as a whole. Any steep, solar slope had moist snow by early afternoon and by mid afternoon some loose wet activity was noted. The polar aspects haven't felt the warm temps as much. The snow remains cold, and the layering structure that we're used to is still intact. At alpine & treeline elevations, the windslabs still haven't had enough heat to bond together.

Problems

Loose Wet

Solar aspects will have a crust in the morning. The cloud may prevent this from breaking down at higher elevations.

Avoid ice climbs exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects during the middle of the day.Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Most prominent along lee features.

Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopes

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

Cornices could start to fail if they see a lot of sun. These kinds of large triggers could cause the deep layers to fail.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Valid until: Mar 14th, 2018 2:00PM