Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 24 – 25, 2013Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Solar radiation is a real concern. South and West aspects will become more sensitive to triggering in the afternoon and cornices should be treated with caution. Be aware of overhead terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–5
    A variety of wind slabs have been created over the last week. These slabs are now hidden under 5 to 20cm of recent snow, but remain sensitive to human triggering in steep and unsupported terrain.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–5
    Cornice failures continue to be a theme, with several failures triggering slab avalanches in recent days. Be aware of overhead exposure especially during times of intense solar radiation.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    A few crust layers are found in the upper snowpack. These crusts reach as high as 3000m on S aspects and 2200m on other aspects. Monitor the location of these layers within the snowpack and assess the bond with layers above.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Sunny skies with light W to NW winds for the next couple of days. Temperatures in the alpine will range between -12 and -10 on Monday. No precipitation is expected.

Avalanche Summary

Isolated sluffing in steep terrain, including one small Nc release that pulverized in the cliff bands below. One size 2.0 slab avalanche on a steep E aspect at 2600m occurred in the past 24hrs. Minor snowballing on steep S and W aspects in the afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

Crusts are melting and re-forming on S, SW and W aspects with the diurnal temperature swings, getting slightly thicker each day. On N and E aspects between 5 and 20cm of recent snow overlies a variety of buried slabs. These slabs are a concern in steep, unsupported terrain. Snowpack is generally weak in sheltered areas below treeline.

Regions covered