Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Little Yoho, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
There is uncertainty about how powerful localized solar impact and daytime heating will be tomorrow. It is the time of year to start early and finish early, to optimize the coolest temperatures of the day.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Some small loose dry/wet avalanches were observed in Yoho, otherwise, no avalanches were reported on Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 35 cm of snow over old sun crusts on solar aspects, with new solar crusts forming. On polar aspects, this snow sits over a layer of stellars/spotty surface hoar crystals and is worth monitoring.
Our main concern is shallow snowpack areas on northerly alpine aspects where the midpack is thinner/weaker, and triggering Feb 3 facet/crust layer and basal facets/depth hoar remains possible.
Deeper snowpack areas have few concerns.
Weather Summary
The sky will be mainly sunny thanks to the influence of an upper ridge. Freezing levels rise to above the treeline along most of the range during the day, lowering to the valley bottom at night. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds
Click here for more weather info.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
As we head into April the sun will have a greater impact. Sunny skies on Monday may result in wet loose avalanches in the afternoon especially on steep solar aspects and in rocky terrain.
Recent storm snow could also form a cohesive storm slab and become reactive on buried crusts.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may be present on ridgetop and cross-loaded features, with failures possible on the interface below the storm snow. Monitor this interface carefully in steep terrain.
Dry loose avalanches out of steep terrain could also present issues in confined terrain features.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
The Feb 3 crust/facet interface is down 70-110 cm. In shallow snowpack areas on northerly alpine aspects this layer remains sensitive to skiers, with remote triggering observed in several instances. All the recent avalanches that initiated on this layer stepped down to the basal facets / ground.
Aspects: North, North East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3