Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 17th, 2014 8:52AM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Conditions are prime for human-triggering. Choose conservative terrain and give the snowpack some time to heal. Watch for periods of intense solar radiation that will quickly de-stabilize the snow on solar aspects.

Summary

Confidence

Fair

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud on Tuesday with temperatures near -4 at ridgetop. Winds will be moderate to strong from the west. Light accumulations of snow are expected on Wednesday and Thursday.

Avalanche Summary

Several Na loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5 in steep terrain on all aspects at all elevations. Ski cutting produces small sluffs on steep North aspects at treeline.

Snowpack Summary

35cm of low density storm snow in past 48hrs is bonding well to previous surfaces. Moist snow on solar aspects in late afternoon when sun poked out. Previously formed crust buried 35cm is found below 1900m on all aspects, but this crust extends into the Alpine on solar aspects. Isolated ski-controlled sluffing in steep North aspects. Feb 10th found down an average of 100cm at treeline and still produces variable shears.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

This persistent weak layer is buried 70 to 100cm in Alpine and Treeline areas and is sensitive to human triggering.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

3 - 5

Wind Slabs

Fresh wind slabs are found on lee and cross-loaded features at treeline and above. If these slabs are triggered an avalanche could step down to the Feb 10th layer and produce a large avalanche.

Choose well supported terrain without convexities.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Loose Dry

Recent low density storm snow is sluffing on steep slopes on all aspects at all elevations. Solar triggering is also a concern during sunny periods.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 18th, 2014 2:00PM