Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 24 – 25, 2022Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Pay close attention to the temperature and solar radiation as they will quickly change the avalanche hazard. Best to start early and finish early.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Loose wet slides may step down to the March crust triggering a slab on this interface. 

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    When the sun comes out, a loose wet cycle is likely to begin on solar aspects. Pay close attention to the quality of the freeze overnight as this will play a large role in the timing of this problem. 

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Thursday was warm enough to make the snow moist on all aspects which caused several wet loose avalanches. Thursday night is suppose to go down to -10c and Friday is expected to be sunny with cloudy periods and a high of -1c in the alpine. Winds will be around 30km/h from the SW. Pay close attention to the temperature and solar radiation as the snow will likely change quickly and you will likely see wet loose avalanches on solar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

More loose wet avalanches were observed on Thursday. Expect more on Friday.

Snowpack Summary

About 10cm fell Wednesday night and is settling fast. This new snow sits on a temperature crust on all aspects up to 2500m. Dry snow was encountered only on true North aspects above 2500m. The forecasters are still concerned for the persistent slab problem on steep solar aspects which are two buried crusts down about 40cm and 60cm. The load of new wet loose avalanches might be enough to wake up these buried crusts and cause larger avalanches. If the temperature is higher than forecast or the sky is clearer on Friday, the hazard could go to Considerable.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.

Regions covered