Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 21st, 2014 8:17AM

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

burke.duncan, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

The storm snow from the past few days is settling out and by late Friday has not seen a lot of wind action. Only a few centimeters of new snow is anticipated over the weekend and skiing conditions are very good.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Wind speed and direction is uncertain

Weather Forecast

A few centimeters of new snow over Friday night is likely in alpine terrain. Overnight lows down to -17 degrees and winds light. Winds on Saturday are forecast to be generally light with gusty periods up to 35km/h.

Avalanche Summary

One new size 2.5 on a west aspect on MT Buller Fracture Line up to 1 meter thick along flanks. Debris ran to within 100m of roadway.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow from the past 24+ hours is settling and bonding to the previous surface. No new windslabs observed in travel in Alpine terrain today around the Tent Ridge area.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Isolated wind slabs are present on lee aspects in alpine and treeline terrain.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid cross loaded features.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Field tests on a north aspect at 2350m still producing shears on the Feb 11 interface in the moderate range.

Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Mar 22nd, 2014 2:00PM