Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 5th, 2015 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs.

Lisa Paulson, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Travel and climbing conditions are excellent for ice and big alpine ascents. Ski conditions rermain challenging with breakable surface crusts or thin windslab.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cloud and very light flurries are forecasted for the next several days.Â Winds will be generally light from the West with gusts up to 70 km/hr.Â Temperatures will be warmer than they have been, but still in the minus single digits.Â There are no significant inputs expected to affect the avalanche hazard.

Snowpack Summary

Despite the presence of weak facets and depth hoar near the ground, the weak layers in the snowpack are largely dormant right now. This is a result of past warming and rain, recent cold temperatures and no significant snow for several weeks. Once the temperatures warm up significantly and/or new snow arrives then the weak layers will re-activate.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches reported or observed today.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The lower half of the snowpack is weak due to the presence of basal facets and depth hoar. Natural and human triggering is unlikely as the weak layer is dormant, but it is still a good practice to avoid steep, open, rocky slopes with shallow snow.

Ski crampons make travel easier and safer on frozen surface conditionsTravel conditions are difficult at lower elevations and in the trees.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 6th, 2015 4:00PM