Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 29th, 2018 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

stephen holeczi, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

A refresh is expected Friday with 20-30cm possible. Expect the new snow to be touchy if the forecast winds materialize, and give the new snow some time to settle before pushing into bigger terrain.

Summary

Weather Forecast

20-30cm of snow is expected tonight into Friday afternoon. Alpine winds will be strong from the SW Friday morning, dropping in the afternoon. Temperatures will also drop Friday afternoon, with a clearing trend on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 25-40cm over the last week has been redistributed by strong W/SW winds forming wind slabs in lee features down to treeline. The March 15 suncrust is down 25-40cm on solar aspects and has been sensitive to skier triggering over the last few days. The mid- pack land basal layers have been dormant for the past while.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches reported or observed today.Â Yesterday there were a few cornice triggered wind slabs up to size 2 in the Bow Hut area and Sunshine village.Â The good news is even with that large trigger, nothing too big was released!Â

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday

Problems

Storm Slabs

This problem includes new widespread storm slabs which will form if the expected snow and wind occurs, and some older wind slabs which will now be buried in specific features at upper elevations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

The buried March 15th suncrust has provided a good sliding layer in recent skier triggered avalanches. This crust is buried 25-40cm currently on solar aspects, and will be deeper after the forecast snow Friday.

Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking. Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 30th, 2018 4:00PM