Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 8th, 2017 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Forecasters are using caution in large Alpine and Treeline terrain. Wind slabs seem ripe for human triggering.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Thursday will be cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Winds will be light form the south and alpine temperatures will reach a high of -13 °C. A storm is approaching for Friday and could bring 10 to 15cm of snow with moderate westerly winds.

Avalanche Summary

A natural avalanche cycle continues with slides up to size 3.0 occurring in steep Alpine and Treeline terrain on SE, E, NE and N aspects. Some avalanches are running full path.

Snowpack Summary

Trace to 3cm of new snow in the past 24hrs. Variable wind effect in Alpine and open areas at Treeline. Cornices are large and several failures have occurred in recent days. The mid-pack remains supportive, but the basal weak layer persist.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Storm/wind slabs between 40 and 65cm thick are found in lee and cross-loaded features at Treeline and above. Natural avalanche activity associated to this problem continues, and many slopes appear primed for human-triggering.

If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

An avalanche initiated in the upper snowpack could step down to a deeper weak layer.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Cornices

Several cornice failures over the past week have triggered deep and large avalanches.

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger persistent slabs.Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach run out zones.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 9th, 2017 2:00PM