Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 7 – 8, 2016Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Yesterday's heat and today's sun is helping to stabilize the snow, but it is taking a bit of toll on the ski quality. North aspects at upper treeline could be the place for decent skiing.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    With the recent heating, its expected that these slabs will tighten up considerably as it cools down overnight. These will be more problematic at higher elevations.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Snowpack depth is a critical consideration with this layer. Deeper areas are generally harder to trigger.

Confidence

High

Weather Forecast

Tonight will see the freezing level drop back down to valley bottom with winds at 25km/hr from the west. Tomorrow will be cloudy with flurries delivering only trace amounts of new snow. Tomorrow's high will be -5 at 2500m. Winds will be steady at the 30km/hr mark. Freezing level will rise to 1700m.

Avalanche Summary

Evidence of a loose wet cycle from yesterday is very evident on all aspects. Lots of snow balling out of steep terrain. 1 new slab was noted during a flight yesterday. It was an alpine start zone, east aspect and sz 2.5. Likely a cornice trigger.

Snowpack Summary

Yesterday's heat had a dramatic effect on the snowpack. We saw moist snow as high as 2300m on solar aspects and 2200 on polar aspects. This has created yet another crust at lower elevations. Mid elevations and polar aspects have escaped the new crust, but likely saw significant settlement. In the alpine, it was noted that the Feb 27th crust is very prominent on the south aspects and down 60-80cm in blown in areas. On the northerly aspects, this crust is limited to below treeline and treeline where the warm air settled. Cornices continue to grow in all lee terrain.

Regions covered