Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 23rd, 2014 3:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Rapid loading or rapid heating will cause stability to deteriorate quickly. Pay lots of attention to the aspect you are traveling on.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday

Weather Forecast

Avalanche Summary

Sporadic natural avalanche activity up to sz 3 continues in all three elevation zones. The majority of these slides that are occurring are related to daytime heating.

Snowpack Summary

Spring conditions. The snowpack is settling rapidly. Surface crusts are melting during the day and re-freezing at night. The snowpack has gone isothermal at lower elevations on the warmer days. Even North aspects have been affected with moist snow as high as 2500m. Where cornices exist they are large and sagging.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The basal facets are producing large slab avalanches that are failing on the basal facets.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.>Avoid exposure to solar aspects overhead, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.>Choose the deepest and strongest snowpack areas on your run.>Cornices become weak with daytime heating. >

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Loose Wet

Loose wet point release avalanches are occurring on solar aspects related to daytime warming. In some areas these smaller avalanches are triggering slabs on underlying slopes.

Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.>

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 24th, 2014 2:00PM