Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 28th, 2017 3:00PM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The overnight and early morning winds will strongly influence the hazard tomorrow. Expect windslabs at treeline and above if there is widespread snow transport. Alpine hazard could jump to considerable.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Up to 5cm tonight. Tomorrow will be mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. The alpine high will be -15 with wind s picking up to 45-50km/.hr from the west at treeline. The alpine will much stronger winds. One forecast had then at 100km/hr in the morning.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new was seen today.

Snowpack Summary

A flight around the area today gave us a good look at the snow conditions. In general we are still seeing a low elevation snowpack that is well settled up top, but weak deeper down. There are two apparent crusts in the top layers, but neither of which pose a problem yet.Â This deep weakness is a widespread problem. Treeline and alpine elevations has had a few cm's of snow with not a lot of wind effect. Some transport was noted, but most of it was localized and of little consequence. At these upper elevations, the problem layers are down almost a meter. Some near surface slabs exist as do buried sun crusts on solar aspects. Unlike the low elevation, these crusts may be a concern in steep terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent winds have created isolated thin wind slabs in lee and cross loaded areas at Treeline and above.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

The buried hard slab is the concern here. Probing with a ski pole is the best way to monitor its location. Expect wide propagations if it does get triggered.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach run out zones.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

This layer will be with us for the year and should be put into every slope decision. The current snowpack structure is very concerning, with the possibility of very large avalanches if a trigger point is found.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 1st, 2017 2:00PM