Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Mar 10 – 11, 2016Alberta Parks
View on map
Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Strong winds, warm temps are new snow have created new windslabs in alpine areas. Recent avalanche activity indicates that these slabs have the potential for triggering by light loads such as a person. Use caution and keep an eye on overhead terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Widespread in Alpine areas and more isolated at TL areas.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Cornices have been growing over the past few days.  If they fail, they have enough mass to trigger a slab avalanche on the underlying slopes.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Large avalanches being triggerred from thin snowpack areas have occurred over the past week. Be cautious in wind affected and variable terrain.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday

Weather Forecast

Convective flurries are forecast to continue overnight.  Winds will continue out of the SW in the strong range with temperatures in the alpine midday on Friday around -2.  Friday the day is forecast to start out clear and then have clouds build in throughout the day.  Freezing levels will be around 1900m

Avalanche Summary

A few new slabs up too sz 2.5 out of alpine terrain on East aspects were observed.  The common theme of these avalanches was crossloaded terrain.  There was also numerous loose dry avalanches up to sz 1.5 out of steep unskiable terrain. 

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25cm of recent storm snow has fallen over the past 36hrs above 2300m.  Snowfall amounts rapidly taper as you decrease elevation with only 5cm of snow being observed at lower elevations.  The 0307 Crust is being found down 20cm at 2200m and the bond with the underlying snow is so far good.  Strong winds at upper elevations on Thursday have created new winsdslabs in the upper snowpack that are reactive to skier traffic in wind affected areas. 

Regions covered