Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 15th, 2014 4:00PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.

stephen holeczi, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

We will likely have another natural avalanche cycle starting Sunday. SH

Summary

Weather Forecast

We are expecting 40cm+ West of the divide and in the Lake Louise, Bow Summit area, and 20cm + in the Sunshine area starting tonight.Â This will be accompanied by moderate to strong westerly winds and warming temperatures.Â We should see the storm leave the area by Monday morning.

Snowpack Summary

Strong west winds have created widespread wind effect in the ALP and at TL. Below 1500m a rain crust exists. The Feb.10th layer is down 50-110 and is still showing easy to moderate test results in thinner snowpack areas, and harder results in deeper snowpack areas. Areas with buried sun crust are especially touchy.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations today. We are still only just coming out of a major avalanche cycle

Confidence

on Sunday

Problems

Persistent Slabs

With the new snow, expect the Feb 10th layer of facets, surface hoar, and some buried sun crust to "wake up", especially in thin and variable snowpack areas.

Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.Avoid areas with overhead hazard.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

We will have wind slab development in any exposed areas with the new snow and forecasted mod-strong west winds. Failure of these may step down to the Feb. 10th interface.

If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 16th, 2014 4:00PM