Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 15 – 16, 2017Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

Avoid all avalanche terrain. A widespread avalanche cycle is on-going.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very 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. Wet slabs at lower elevations are occurring due to the recent rain.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very 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

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–4
    Any avalanche initiated in the upper snowpack could step down to the weak basal layers resulting in a very large avalanche. Recent wet snow has overloaded this layer resulting in large avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

Another 5cm of snow is expected tonight before Thursday brings a cloudy day with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures will reach a high of -8 °C with the freezing level at 1400m. Winds will be out of the west at 40-55 km/h. A storm is approaching on Friday and Saturday possibly bringing significant snowfalls, warm temperatures and strong winds.

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3.0 is occurring on all aspects at all elevations with many slides reaching the end of their run-outs. Many avalanches are stepping down to the basal weak layers with fractures as deep as 2 metres.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 15cm of new snow above 2300m and rain below this elevation. The snowpack is settling rapidly. A widespread natural avalanche cycle is on-going (see Avalanche Activity Discussion). The mid-pack remains dense and the basal layers remain weak. Up to 100cm of depth hoar and facets make up the base of the snowpack.

Regions covered