Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 18 – 19, 2012Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 15 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

It is getting harder to trigger an avalanche on the Valentines surface hoar, but the consequence of triggering one is huge. Areas West of the Divide have more bridging strength overall. Watch for triggering from thinner areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Isolated wind slabs up to 50cm thick can be still triggered in steeper terrain, especially around ridge crests.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    Down 70-120cm, the Valentines surface hoar is producing harder shears, and Field teams in Yoho, the Wapta, and Kootenay today had similar results. A size 3 triggered by seracs in the bow hut area remote triggered moraines on this layer yesterday.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Numerous steep solar slopes were reported to slide today up to size 2.5 in the Emerald Lake area. Tomorrow we may see the same occurring. Failing cornices in the sun may provide a large trigger.

Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

Avalanche Summary

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Sunday

Regions covered