Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 25 – 26, 2017Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 10 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Conservative decision making is key right now.  Forecasters are still avoiding large overhead terrain that hasn't released.  When the sun comes out, stability can decrease quickly, especially on solar aspects. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Windslabs are being encountered in isolated areas at Treeline and more widespread in the Alpine. Ridgelines, gullies and crossloaded features should be treated with caution and in steeper terrain avoided.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    Forecasters are still avoiding overhead hazard that has not yet released and being very conservative in bigger terrain.

Confidence

High - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries.Precipitation: Trace.Alpine temperature: High -7 °C.Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h.Freezing level: 1600 metres.

Avalanche Summary

A few loose dry avalanches up to sz 1 were observed out of steep unskiable terrain on Saturday.  No new slab avalanche activity was observed.

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm overnight on Friday and another 4-5cm of snow throughout the day on Saturday combined with moderate westerly winds at higher elevations is creating new windslabs along ridgelines and in crossloaded features in alpine and treeline terrain.  These new windslabs are overlying a settled midpack that is overlying a very weak facetted base in most areas.  Thin weak areas are the likely areas where one may trigger the deeper instabilities and cause a large destructive avalanche.  Natural avalanche activity has began to taper off but many slopes are still primed for a large avalanche.  Use caution around terrain that has not yet released. 

Regions covered