Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 30th, 2012 11:08AM

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

mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

An additional 20cm is forecast to fall over the next 24hrs. SW Winds will quickly build windslabs in open wind affected terrain and cause stability to deteriorate. Also, watch for concerns associated with daytime warming.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

An additional 15-20cm is forecast to fall over the next 24hrs with the main pulse of precip starting mid-day on Saturday. Freezing levels are forecast to climb to 2100m.

Avalanche Summary

No new Avalanche activity was observed on Friday but visibility was limited.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm HST is overlying a variety of different layers depending on aspect and elevation. Below 2200m a temperature crust can be found on all aspects. The new snow appears to be bonding to this crust well in areas observed on Friday. At treeline and above, the new snow is being redistributed by the SW flow building storm slabs up to 40cm thick. Valentines day surface hoar layer is down 150 and producing hard to no results.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm slabs are present on lee features in alpine areas and wind exposed areas at treeline. These slabs sit on a variety of buried layers including crusts and surface hoar. The bond between the new snow and these layers is variable.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 4

Persistent Slabs

The February surface hoar is buried 120-150cm at treeline. This interface has been strengthening and becoming harder to trigger, but shallow snowpack areas are still a concern. Cornices or smaller avalanches could step down to this layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 6

Loose Wet

Stability will deteriorate as temperatures warm up throughout the day. These decreases in stability will be most apparent on solar aspects so use caution on or around solar aspects.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 31st, 2012 9:00AM