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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2021–Mar 27th, 2021

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

We expect an increase in the hazard starting Saturday and peaking Sunday. This increase will vary from region to region on Saturday. Watch locally for these changes when deciding about terrain, and how much risk you want to accept.

Weather Forecast

Cloudy skies on Saturday with no new snow in the Banff area, and 5-10cm elsewhere by the end of the day. Alpine winds will increase to 50-60km/h from the W/NW Saturday AM and continue strong into Sunday. An additional 10-20cm is expected Sunday, with potential rain at lower elevations as valley bottom temps will stay above freezing Sat night.

Snowpack Summary

15-40 cm of snow has fallen within the last week with variable SW-NW winds. This new snow sits over a sun crust (up to ridge tops) on solar aspects, over a temperature crust at lower elevations and over a mix of surfaces on North aspects including facets and spotty surface hoar.

Avalanche Summary

Limited observations today. 1 natural cornice failure in the Sunshine backcountry triggered a small wind slab (sz. 1), and ski cutting thin wind slabs in immediate alpine lee features.

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.