Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 3rd, 2015–Apr 4th, 2015

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Little Yoho.

Enjoy this weekend's Easter Spring storm but keep an eye out for recently buried wind slabs in the upper tree line and alpine elevations, cornices lurking at ridge tops and new loose snow avalanche problem over the March 28th crust interface. PJ

Weather Forecast

Cool maritime air mass off the coast will produce a series of fronts, which for the Rockies will produce some significant snowfall beginning late morning on Saturday. This storm will be up slope in nature. Winds will be light to moderate and freezing levels will be at around 1900 meters mid-day

Snowpack Summary

2-5 cm of recent snow overlies a prominent rain crust from March 28th. The mid layering and base of the snowpack is well settled in the forecast area of Little Yoho. Some recent snow has been redistributed by M-S winds earlier this week and these resultant wind slabs are buried in the alpine at ridge top and cross-loaded gulley features.

Avalanche Summary

An isolated size 2-2.5 avalanche was triggered by a ski touring group on the approach to the Peyto Glacier. The avalanche failed on basal facets in a shallow, steep and rocky moraine feature and had been freshly loaded with snow from the moderate to strong winds this past week.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Saturday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.