Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 2–3
Wind slabs are widespread in Alpine and Treeline terrain on all aspects, but expect deeper slabs on lee and cross-loaded features.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapKananaskis
Mar 14 – 15, 2017Alberta Parks
Archived · expired 10 years ago
Avalanche danger
Thu
Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
Highlights
Avoid overhead exposure. Strong solar radiation and warming a real concern for avalanches to release into the deeper basal weak layer.
Avalanche problems
Cornices
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 2–4
Cornice collapses are triggering slabs up to size 3.5 on underlying slopes waking up the basal layers.
Deep Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 2–4
Any avalanche initiated in the upper snowpack could step down to the weak basal layers resulting in a very large avalanche.
Confidence
-
Weather Forecast
Wednesday will bring 6cm of snow and an alpine temperature of -1c. Ridge winds are forecast for 30-40km/h from the SW. Freezing level could reach 2200m and higher on solar aspects. Overnight low temperatures of -1c are expected.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed in our region but the visibility was poor. Our neighbours in Banff Park have reported a large avalanche cycle going into the weak basal layer. The forecasters suspect that we will see some large avalanches with the warming and strong solar radiation.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 4 cm of snow in the past 24hrs. Wind slabs are present at tree line and above on all aspects and are primed for human triggering. A large recent avalanche cycle in Banff National Park with avalanches going to the deeper layers have the forecasters concerned with the warming temperatures and strong solar radiation. The deeper layer of concern is the bottom 90cm of the snowpack which is comprised of depth hoar and facets.