Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 2nd, 2015 3:00PM

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

Alberta Parks mike.koppang, Alberta Parks

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Kananaskis.

New snow is in the forecast for Saturday.  Amounts are uncertain at this time as well as there is low confidence in this system so stay tuned.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Track of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday

Weather Forecast

A cooling trend is happenning over the next few days and then on Saturday, there is snow in the forecast.  Models vary at this time but we may see up to 20cm of new snow.  Winds are forecast to be calm over the next few days.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed. 

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of snow is overlying the 0327 interface at 2200m and above.  There was also surprisingly little wind affect despite strong winds earlier in the week.  Field teams on Thursday were in the Turbine canyon area and found a generally well settled snowpack above 2200m.  In the top 30cm of the snowpack there are a series of crusts from last weeks heat.  No shears were observed on these crusts but that may change when we get a large load of new snow like we usually do in the spring.  The crust remained intact throughout the day on Thursday as temperatures remained cool.  At lower elevations, when the crust breaks down, the snowpack is purely isothermal. 

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Ridgelines and immediate lee features will be of concern.
Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs
Unlikely to trigger, but large triggers such as cornices may wake it up.  Other things such as rain may also wake up this basal weakness.
Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.>Avoid convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 5

Valid until: Apr 3rd, 2015 2:00PM

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