Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 11th, 2019 3:00PM

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

michael.olsthoorn, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

Heads Up!!!! New wind slabs in the alpine and at tree line.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Tuesday will bring light flurries and strong SW winds in the morning with winds diminishing and snow developing after lunch.Â Snow amounts are expected to be12cm with a high temperature of -5c.

Avalanche Summary

Few new slab avalanchesÂ were observed on SW to NE faces .

Snowpack Summary

Widespread wind slab in the alpine and treeline from the strong SW winds over the last 24hours. Time for heads up for lee and cross loaded features that have experienced substantial wind loadingÂ The formerly strong midpack has been decimated by a month of cold weather and is now highly variable in its density, with many areas exhibiting no structure at all. Much of the region's snowpack consists of recent wind slabs sitting on up to 80cm of depth hoar and facets. It will be interesting to see how the snowpack adjusts to the recent load and the forecasted warm temperatures. It is likely that full-depth avalanches will become more commonplace in the next few days.

Problems

Wind Slabs

The strong winds have left us with new wind slabs in the alpine and upper treeline.

Carefully evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes. Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

What will wake up this layer? A skier/rider in a thin shallow snowpack area? Warmer temps with some solar radiation? A cornice failure? This layer deserves respect as any resulting avalanche will be full depth.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Loose Dry

Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline. Recent storm snow has formed touchy slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 12th, 2019 2:00PM