Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 2nd, 2018 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The snowpack is a ways off the typical melt-freeze cycle normally found at this time of year. Still feels like winter out there with lots of good skiing to be found.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Unseasonably cool weather through Thursday will maintain the winter conditions we have been experiencing. Tuesday is expected to be a mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine areas will reach a high of -11 °C with moderate westerly winds. Similar conditions will persist until Friday when a slight warm-up is expected.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was observed today.

Snowpack Summary

A few centimetres of fresh snow fell in the past 24 hours. The recent storm snow the we received earlier in the week is settling and beginning to strengthen. Isolated wind slabs are being found in Alpine terrain along ridge crests and gully features but do not extend far down slope. On solar aspects there is a new thin melt freeze crust the developed on Saturday and then the deeper march 15th crust down closer to 50cm. Field tests are showing no results on this crust so far but we are still cautious in bigger south facing terrain. Dig down and evaluate this interface before committing to a feature.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Watch for both surface and near-surface wind slabs in Alpine terrain and just into the upper edge of Treeline. These slabs were formed during a switch from NW wind to SW, so they do exist on multiple aspects.

Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopesEvaluate unsupported slopes critically.Avoid freshly wind loaded features.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

The March 15th melt-freeze crust, buried 30-50cm on solar aspects, could be an issue on bigger slopes, particularly in the Alpine. Evaluate the snowpack for the presence/absence of this problem layer before committing to a terrain feature.

Avoid steep Southerly aspects.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Apr 3rd, 2018 2:00PM