Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2019 5:12PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Expect Tuesday's warm temperature and solar radiation to have an effect on steep solar aspects.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will see a relative warm spell! Only -22 in the morning with a high of -8. Light SE winds and of course, no snow.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed.Â Avalanche control is planned on the Spray starting at 11:00am on Tuesday March 5, 2019.Â This will occur between Three Sisters Dam(Spray West Campground turn off and Buller Day use).

Snowpack Summary

Cold, dry and often loose snow is the flavor of the month so far. We are still seeing windslabs near ridges and cross loaded areas, but these seem to loose there typical "cakey" character very quickly. Despite not having a traditional windslab feel to them, they could still react simply because the underlying layers are weak, aerated facets. As you get further down slope there is eventually no slab, or any true structure to the snow. In un-traveled areas, expect a weak, occasionally bottomless snowpack.Â A big change in temperature and solar effect is expected for Tuesday.Â It would not be surprising to see avalanche activity on solar aspects.

Problems

Wind Slabs

These are getting better as the bond improves with the underlying layer and the cold air facets the snow. If they do react, expect them to auger in and bulldoze the midpack.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

We are thinking this layer is becoming more reactive over time. As the slabs facet/weaken, the bridging effect will become less reliable.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Loose Dry

Mostly a problem in steep terrain, but we could start to see some solar triggered slides as well.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 5th, 2019 2:00PM