Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 7th, 2014 9:53AM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Windy and warm conditions with up to 10cm of heavy wet snow (or rain) on Tuesday will keep the Hazard levels elevated. Stick to conservative terrain and be wary of overhead hazard. Grizzly tracks were sighted today on the Burstall Pass trail!

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will bring overcast skies with windy and warm conditions. Alpine temperatures will be warm with the freezing level near 2400m. Winds from the West will gust to 100km/h. Snowfall amounts could reach 8 to 10cm on Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new today. A group of 2 people triggered an avalanche on Mt Lawrence Grassi yesterday just outside our forecast area. One subject was completely buried, but escaped with minor injuries when his partner quickly dug him up. This avalanche failed on the Feb 10th layer and was a size 2.0. The fracture depth ranged from 40 to 100cm and was 100m wide by 100m long.

Snowpack Summary

Snowpack is settling. Previously formed crusts up to 2200m on all aspects and higher on solar aspects remained mostly intact today due to mostly cloudy conditions and moderate to strong winds. However, brief periods of intense solar radiation did turn the snow moist in some areas, especially at lower elevations. Wind slab formation is ongoing at Treeline and above on NW through E aspects. Sheltered N aspects at higher elevations remain dry and provide good skiing.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

The Feb 10th layer is becoming less reactive, but is still a concern buried 90 to 120cm in the snowpack. Shallow snowpack areas are a concern as a large alpine features.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Avoid thin, rocky or sparsely-treed slopes.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Apr 8th, 2014 2:00PM