Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 20th, 2015 3:00PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

A few cms of snow is forecast to fall overnight but little change is expected. Windslabs along ridgelines and in crossloaded features will be the main concern.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Saturdays forecast:Cloudy with scattered flurries.Accumulation: 4 cm of snow in Alpine areasAlpine temperature: High -1 C.Ridge wind west: 30 km/h gusting to 70 km/h.Freezing level: 2100 metres.

Avalanche Summary

No new observations from today.

Snowpack Summary

Overnight lows have been high enough lately to prevent a solid freeze below treeline. By early afternoon the valley bottom snowpack is near isothermal and higher elevations are seeing moist snow on solar aspects. At treeline the surface varies from sun/temperature crust on solar aspects to fresh windslabs on lee features. The recent snow has been blown into the low areas where there is a crust underneath. No avalanches have occurred on this interface yet, but its likely there are isolated pockets of touchy windslab in crossloaded features. The alpine is a mix of windslab and wind disturbed, but still soft snow. Winds were variable today so expect to see windslabs of varying density on all aspects.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Look for these features along ridgelines and crossloaded terrain features in the Alpine and isolated areas at TL.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Thin steeper areas are still of a concern.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>Avoid thin, rocky or sparsely-treed slopes.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Mar 21st, 2015 2:00PM