Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 19th, 2017 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Very large avalanches are occurring as a historic avalanche cycle continues. Carefully manage your exposure to any overhead hazard or large terrain features.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

The storm is over and temperatures are dropping. Tuesday will be cloudy with sunny periods and light SE winds. Despite this cooling trend the late March solar radiation will be intense whenever the sun is shining. Tuesday and Wednesday should be slightly milder.

Avalanche Summary

An avalanche cycle continues, with recent slab avalanches up to size 3.5 occurring on all aspects at all elevations. Many of the avalanches today occurred in common ski touring terrain. All of the avalanches are stepping down to the basal weak layers. Crowns are up to 1.5m deep and propagations have been wide. Many avalanches have reached or exceeded their historic run-outs, in some cases destroying significant tracts of mature forest. Avalanche control work today on EEOR, the Big Sister and Mt Buller produced results up to size 3.0.

Snowpack Summary

Rain turned to snow overnight with as much as 12cm of new snow at Treeline elevations with strong West winds. Further wind slab development on all aspects. Natural avalanche activity continued today up to size 3.0 with most slides stepping down to the basal layers.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are found on all aspects. Human triggering is very likely.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

A natural avalanche cycle continues with numerous slabs failing at or near ground. Avalanches are propagating wide and running full path.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 20th, 2017 2:00PM