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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2020–Mar 17th, 2020

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, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

A cooler day on Tuesday should reduce solar inputs but daytime heating could be an issue if the skies clear. Watch for lingering wind slabs and avoid steep shallow snow pack areas. Good skiing can be had in sheltered terrain. Enjoy!

Weather Forecast

Some increased winds Monday night but then back to light winds generally from the North on Tuesday with a few light flurries in the afternoon. Alpine and treeline temperatures between -8 to -4' C and valley bottom temperatures near freezing. Solar inputs will be limited but can heat things quickly if the skies are more clear than expected.

Snowpack Summary

Sun crust on steep solar aspects. 15-20 cm of soft snow over a firm mid pack has been redistributed by moderate winds from various directions (SW, N and E). Wind slabs are present in steep lee areas, with wind effect on many open slopes above treeline. In shallow snowpack areas the weak basal facets remain a concern.

Avalanche Summary

A few small solar triggered slides were observed out of steep rocky terrain Sunday and Monday. Several slab avalanches from size 1.5-2.5 were observed Sunday on steep SW cross loaded shallow slopes and highlight the basal weakness in shallow areas. A cornice failure also triggered the deep persistent layer on the NE side of Observation Pk.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.