Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Apr 15 – 16, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Overcast skies and light precipitation will reduce solar induced hazards over the next few days. Spring time hazard ratings in effect. Although not extraordinarily active, cornice failures remain a concern.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Although the forecast is calling for cooler, cloudier conditions, if the sun comes out, it will be strong and can destabilize the snow quickly. Also, be careful at lower elevations if it is raining.

Weather Forecast

Wed: 2-5 cm of snow with light winds and freezing levels around 1500m. Thurs: Clear in the morning with a good freeze. Overcast and light precip during the day with freezing levels rising to 1900m. Fri: Weaker overnight freeze and another 5-10 cm of snow above the 1900m freezing level. Rain at lower elevations. Winds remaining light from the S/SW

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack is well settled with no surface instabilities. A supportive melt-freeze crust exists on all aspects to 1900m and higher on south and west aspects. Dry snow exists on N/NE aspects above this. The deep persistent weak layers are dormant, but may awaken if it warms up. Cornices are large this time of year and tend to fall off on warm days

Avalanche Summary

Small loose snow point release avalanche were observed on south facing terrain in the afternoon.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Regions covered