Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 24th, 2017 3:09PM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Slopes that have not yet released still look primed to avalanche. Avoid exposure to large overhead terrain. If the sun comes out, expect solar aspects to decrease in stability, especially in steeper or thin areas.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Temperatures are forecast to cool over the next few days with light snowfalls expected overnight on Friday. Skies will remain partly cloudy but the sun may show up here and there. Be aware that the sun at this time of the year pack a lots of intensity and solar aspects can loose stability rapidly when the sun comes out.

Avalanche Summary

No new Natural or human triggered avalanche activity was observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

5-10cm of recent snow is overlying a widespread temperature crust that can be found up to 2300m. Strong winds and recent new snow have created windslabs in Alpine terrain and isolated areas at treeline such as ridgelines and gullies. Moderate sheers were being noted down 30-40cm at the interface with the recent snow. Below this the midpack is well settled but the weak facetted base is still very pronounced and producing hard sheers that are very sudden in nature. Moist snow was being observed below 2000m later in the day on Friday.

Problems

Wind Slabs

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.

Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopesAvoid freshly wind loaded features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

If a slope hasn't slid, then treat it with caution. Forecasters are still avoiding overhead hazard that has not yet released and being very conservative in bigger terrain.

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 25th, 2017 2:00PM