Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Little Yoho, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
Clear skies and warming temperatures Saturday will elevate the hazard.
For the most part, it is still very good travel for alpine objectives.
Start early, finish early.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
The recent cool temperatures have temporarily slowed down the deeper avalanche activity.
Over the last couple days in the alpine, some small thin, fresh windslabs and sluffs have been triggered in the surface snow.
On April 18th Visitor Safety had a flight West to the Lyell's and were able to see a wide swath of terrain. There has been a notable lack of avalanche activity of late.
Snowpack Summary
5-15 cm of settling, possibly moist snow overlies previous temperature crusts on E, W and S aspects. North aspects above 2200 m the recent snow overlays dry snow. Small wind slabs can be expected in specific areas in the alpine and will react easily to human triggers where on a smooth crust
In the mid-pack, the Feb 3 persistent layer (crust/facet layer) remains a concern on northerly alpine aspects, however, cooler temperatures have slowed down natural activity on this layer
Weather Summary
Friday night: Clear. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C. Ridge wind light to 15 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday: Clear. Alpine temperature: High 1 °C. Ridge wind south: 10-30 km/h from the South. Freezing level: 2300m.
Sunday: Flurries. Accumulation: 5-15 cm. Alpine temperature: High -4 °C. Ridge wind west: 20 km/h gusting to 80 km/h.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
As temperatures rise and the sun comes out the potential for wet loose avalanches will increase, especially when surface and underlying crusts breakdown.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Wind Slabs
The winds will continue to flip around from the North, East and end up from the South Saturday. Recent wind may have created thin windslabs in isolated pockets at higher elevations on a variety of aspects. Expect this problem to become more active when the sun comes out.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Persistent Slabs
This problem may become more reactive with warming temperature's.
Aspects: North, North East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 2 - 3