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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 28th, 2021–Mar 29th, 2021

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Up to 35 cm of storm snow is expected accompanied by strong winds. Monday is a day to travel cautiously and investigate how the new snow is bonding to the previous surfaces. Choose more conservative terrain with low consequences to gather more info.

Weather Forecast

Another 10-20 cm of snow at treeline is forecast for most areas Sunday night with alpine winds dropping down to the moderate range and switching from SW to North. Treeline temperatures will fall to the -12 C to -18 C range overnight and stay cool on Monday. Some light flurries and light to moderate NW winds are expected on Monday.

Snowpack Summary

5 to 25 cm of snow at treeline on Sunday with the most in the 93N. New wind slabs in alpine and exposed treeline areas with strong to extreme S-SW winds. Moist snow below 1500 m. 20-50+ cm now sits over the March 19 interface of crust on solar aspects and facets on north aspects. Nov basal facets still prominent in shallow areas east of the divide.

Avalanche Summary

One natural size 2.5-3 came down the Mt Stephen path into the berm near Field. Small loose wet avalanches reported in the Field area below 1500 m. Some small wind slabs above treeline reported by local ski areas, and some sluffing in steep terrain reported on the 93N. Limited visibility in the alpine all day.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

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.