Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 6th, 2013 3:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs, Cornices and Loose Dry.

burke.duncan, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

New snow forecast for the overnight period will add additional load onto last weekends storm snow. Winds are expected to be light but stronger values will quickly form new soft slabs and compound the cornice concerns that exist now.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Forecasts are calling for 10-15cm of new snow overnight with models differing in when the snowfall periods will end - either Thursday Am or late in the day on Thursday.Â Winds are forecast to remain light from the W-SW.Â Temperatures are on a slow steady rise.Â

Avalanche Summary

No new observations observed or reported today.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm snow has settled out into a soft slab approx 30cm thick in areas near treeline.Â Compression test results at 2400m on a 30 degree northeast aspect in the Tent Ridge area today showed moderate results at the interface between the storm snow and an old windslab.Â Additional testing produced hard results on a deeper windslab down 60cm.Â The shears were Sudden Planar in character.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Snow from the most recent storms which totalled as much as 50-70cm is settling out. Slab development is present in lee and cross-loaded terrain. The natural avalanche cycle has tapered off, but prime conditions exist for human triggering.

Assess start zones carefully and use safe travel techniques.>Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Cornices

Cornices have grown significantly in the past 3 days and several cornice failures occurred recently which triggered slab avalanches up to Size 3 on the slopes below.

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Loose Dry

Recent snowfall and light/moderate winds has lead to sluffing from steep terrain on all aspects at all elevations.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 7th, 2013 2:00PM