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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 31st, 2021–Apr 1st, 2021
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Kananaskis.

Tomorrow could be a Jekyll and Hyde kind of day: Sunny and clear to start with flurries and gusty winds by mid afternoon. If doing a longer trip, plan to finish early.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Tomorrow will start out nice, but flurries will move in by early afternoon. We'll only see 2-3cm's, a mere dusting as they say. The winds will be a little gusty as the flurries roll through, but nothing a seasoned Kananaskis User will even notice. Ridge top winds will be steady at 30-40km/hr from the SW. As for temperatures, the daytime high is 0 degrees. Expect strong solar input for the morning.

Avalanche Summary

A few loose dry up to sz1.5 out of steep terrain. Also, a more notable sz2 slab on an east aspect.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm snow of up to 30cm remains dry on northerly aspects, but was moist on the solar side by midday. By morning expect snow on SE through W aspects to have a surface crust. At treeline and below the recent snow is bonding well, but in the Alpine there is a different story. Wind slabs are evident on all aspects except west. The natural avalanche cycle is tapering off, but loaded slopes in the Alpine are still in a human-triggering phase.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
  • Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
  • Avoid steep convex slopes.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs were touchy in the Alpine today, but not as much of an issue at lower elevations. These new slabs will take several days to improve.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5

Loose Wet

A light re-freeze tonight will contribute to a possible solar triggered avalanche problem in the AM.

Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5