Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 1st, 2019 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 Deep Persistent Slabs.

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Cold temps continue! Avalanche control on Mt Buller and Third sister backside on Saturday PM.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

A trace of more snow will fall overnight and conditions on Saturday are looking to be cold and clear. Winds will continue out of the NE and be light.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of snow has fallen over the past 24hrs under the influence of light NE winds. As a result, forecasters on Friday were observing pockets of skier triggerable windslabs in alpine terrain up to 20cm thick along ridgelines and in crossloaded features on all aspects. These slabs did not appear to extend far downslope but if winds continue, they may grow in size and become more reactive. Otherwise the cold temperatures have robbed the snowpack of any strength. In lower elevations weak facets to ground should be expected and the upper snowpack sluffs very easily in steep terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are everywhere. In most areas they are resting on a thick layer of facets and could be easily triggered in unsupported terrain. Cracking was observed by forecaters in Alpine terrain on Friday.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

This problem is a "low probability, high consequence" situation. While difficult to trigger, if the layer does fail it will result in a full depth avalanche.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Mar 2nd, 2019 2:00PM