Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 15 – 16, 2013Alberta Parks
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

Warm temps persist!  Lower elevations are isothermal in many places.  Watch for large cornices looming overhead.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–6
    Widespread storm slabs have developed over the past few days in Alpine terrain. These slabs are 40-60cm thick and are fairly stiff due to warm temps and recent strong winds.  Be aware for potential for remote propagations. 

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Loose wet slides are being observed below treeline (below 1900m) in many areas.  These slides are failing at ground in the weak isothermal snowpack.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Freezing levels are forecast to begin to drop on Saturday but not until later in the day.  Cloudy conditions will persist overnight so we expect there to only be a minimal "re-freeze" of the snowpack over the next 24hrs.  Light snow will begin to fall when the cooler air arrives but snowfall amounts are not expected to be that significant.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet slides were observed below treeline up to sz 1.  Also one sz 3 avalanche was observed on the Nestor slide paths that had a fracture depth of over 1m and was close to 300m wide.  This slide ran from "dry" alpine terrain into the below treeline moist isothermal snowpack.  A few other isolated avalanches up to sz two caused by cornice collapses were also observed.

Snowpack Summary

Moist isothermal snowpack below 1900m throughout the region.  Top 40cm of snowpack moist up to 2200m.  Above 2200m snowpack is still wintery in most places.  The 0303 temperature crust is present on all solar aspects up to 3000m and now has about 40cm of snow overlying it that seems well bonded.  Skiing is rugged.

Regions covered