Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 26th, 2018 3:00PM

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

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

More snow and strong winds are on the way. Hazard will increase at higher elevations as wind slab development continues. Conservative route selection is in order.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Hang on to your hats! it is expected to be very windy for the next couple of days with gusts reaching 75 to 100km/h from the west on Wednesday. Temperatures will remain cool with highs near -7C and cold wind chills. Flurries are expected Tuesday with local amounts ranging from 5 to 20cm.

Avalanche Summary

Visibility was somewhat limited today, but a few thin slab avalanches up to size 2.0 have occurred in the past 24 hours on steep NE, N and NW aspects in the Alpine.

Snowpack Summary

As much as 20cm of recent snow has fallen together with strong to extreme westerly winds. Field observations were limited today but it is obvious that wind slabs are widespread in the Alpine. The unknown at the moment is the distribution and extent of wind slabs at Treeline. It is expected that lee and cross-loaded features at ridge-crest will have wind slab formations, so be cautious with these terrain features. Cornices seem to have grown in the past 24 hours. On solar aspects several buried crusts persist and seem to be reactive for slab avalanches in steep and unsupported terrain. Despite cooler temperatures, when the sun does come out it has lots of punch so be thinking about the effects of solar radiation later in the day.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Extensive wind slab development has occurred in the Alpine and in lee and cross-loaded features at Treeline. Expect some natural avalanche activity in steep terrain and be aware that human-triggering is likely in recently wind loaded features.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopes

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 2.5

Cornices

Overhead cornices loom along ridge-lines. Use caution during periods of intense snow/wind loading or when solar radiation is strong.

Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger deep slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 27th, 2018 2:00PM