Avalanche Forecast
Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks
Some good winter skiing out there, but watch for surface and near surface wind slabs that are sensitive to human triggering.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopes
- Evaluate unsupported slopes critically.
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
This layer's depth varies based on aspect. In lee areas, it could be 40-60 deep.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid steep Southerly aspects.
Avalanche Summary
Several loose dry avalanches up to size 2.0 were observed in steep terrain in the Alpine and at Treeline. A few thin slabs up to size 2.0 occurred in steep Alpine terrain on W and E aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 25cm recent storm snow at Treeline. In the early stage of the storm the winds were strong from the NW switching to SW. This has formed surface and near surface wind slabs in the Alpine. Cornices have grown. At the tail end of the storm the winds tapered off and at Treeline and below there is little to no wind effect in the surface snow. A series of sun crusts are buried on solar aspects, but generally seem unreactive, however the Mar 15 crust down up to 30cm is still being monitored.
Weather Forecast
Sunday will bring flurries to the region with accumulations near 10cm by end of day on Sunday. Alpine temperatures should reach a high -7 °C, with light easterly winds. Early next week will see a return to the unseasonably cold temperatures and some light intermittent flurries. Spring seems a long way off!!!
Avalanche Forecasts in your Inbox
Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
What are RSS feeds?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular standardized file format allowing up-to-date delivery of web-based content. RSS feeds enable you to receive content updates from websites, delivered to your email through an RSS aggregator (such as blogtrottr.com) or viewed through applications called RSS readers (such as feedly.com).
Set up an RSS feed for your email:
Select a RSS aggregator
- Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks URL:
http://www.avalanche.ca/api/forecasts/kananaskis.rss - Copy the url and paste it into the appropriate field of your RSS aggregator.
- Fill in your email address.
- Voila! Watch the Avalanche Canada forecast roll into your inbox.
Forecast Disclaimer
Avalanche Canada's Public Avalanche Bulletin, and other information and services provided by Avalanche Canada, are intended for personal and recreational purposes only.
**THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DISCOMFORT, INJURY, OR DEATH, CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE INFORMATION.**
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events such as avalanches in every instance, and uses the data in this bulletin with this always foremost in mind. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and the Providers disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use the data.
The recent storm has formed wind slabs near ridge-crests at Treeline and more widespread in the Alpine. Variable wind directions have deposited these slabs on all but westerly aspects. Human triggering is likely.