Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 26 – 27, 2015Alberta Parks
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

The warm temps will be with us until Saturday evening. Wet, heavy snow will make most snow sports challenging. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–4
    As the warm temperatures continue, the chances of wet slabs increase on solar aspects.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Extended warm temps and high solar radiation will promote a loose wet cycle on all aspects. Loose wet avalanches may be a trigger for deeper slabs.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    This layer may wake up as the warmth reaches deeper into the snowpack. Watch for cornices and other small avalanches as potential triggers.

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Freezing levels will stay above 2000m tonight with strong ridge top winds. Tomorrow will see freezing levels bump up to 2700m. The projected high at 2500m is 4 degrees. Winds will remain strong from the west.

Avalanche Summary

Limited observations today. Its suspected that there was an isolated loose wet cycle late this afternoon at treeline and below.

Snowpack Summary

Nearly double digit temps have turned the snowpack isothermal at elevation up to 2100m. Above that we have a moist layer resting on a variety of surfaces including old crusts and windslabs. The alpine has windslabs lingering in isolated areas. Polar aspects are more susceptible to the windslab problem These slabs are bonding quickly with the warm weather and high freezing levels.

Regions covered