Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2022–Mar 28th, 2022

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The hazard will increase in the afternoon as the day warms up. This is the time of year to start your trip early.

Weather Forecast

Minimal re-freeze on Sunday night and another warm day on Monday with freezing levels between 2100-2300 m. Light flurries forecasted with minimal accumulation.

Snowpack Summary

Surface melt freeze crusts exist on all aspects up to approx. 2300m. On high elevation north aspects dry snow can be found. The mid-pack is well settled but has several persistent layers consisting of crusts and/or facets. These are currently unreactive to skier triggering but may wake up as spring heat penetrates the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A ski touring party reported a cornice triggered size three slab on the north side of Cathedral Peak on Sunday.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Tuesday

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.