Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2015 3:00PM

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

matt.mueller, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Lots of field observations today have helped to assess and confirm the alpine rating. Enjoy the blue skies!

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Tonight's alpine low will be around -14 degrees with moderate (40km/hr) westerly winds. Tomorrow's treeline temperatures will reach -6. The sun will be out so solar aspects will have higher local temps. The winds will be in tune with the pattern we've been in. 40km/hr out of the west at treeline. No new snow.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches today

Snowpack Summary

Not a lot of change in the last 24hrs. The winds have kept up in the alpine, but luckily most of the snow has been whipped up and blown away. There isn't a lot of windslab building at the moment. Immediate lee will have small pockets of isolated slabs. Treeline has seen much of the new snow stripped away exposing the underlying surfaces. Most of these underlying surfaces are old windslab.

Problems

Wind Slabs

The winds have shifted so we can expect to see small, isolated pockets of windslab near alpine ridgelines on most aspects.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

It will take a significant trigger, or a shallow spot to initiate the deeper layers right now. Watch snow depths as you travel and stick to the deeper areas. Especially as you enter your line.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 5th, 2015 2:00PM