Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 30th, 2012–Mar 31st, 2012

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: 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.

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.

Avalanche 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