Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 12th, 2016 4:00PM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Loose Wet and Deep Persistent Slabs.

aaron beardmore, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Clearing toward the end of Wednesday may increase the likelihood of loose and wet avalanches and deep persistent slabs.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Clearing skies toward the end of the day and a slightly lower freezing level are expected on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

A weak freeze overnight created supportive crusts that were breaking down by the late morning. Below the crust isothermal snow was found up to treeline on all aspects, and in thin alpine areas on S aspects. N aspects in the high alpine are more winter like. In many places the upper snowpack sits on a weaker deep persistent layer of rounding facets.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches observed or reported today.Explosive control on Saturday during the heat of the afternoon was able to produce several 2.5-3 loose wet avalanches out of steep treeline terrain in the Kootenay region.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

All avalanche terrain should be avoided later in the day when the crust on top of the snowpack breaks down due to daytime heating. Cloud cover may reduce the likelihood of this on Wednesday.

Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up. Travel early on frozen crusts before the heat of the day.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep facet layers remain weak especially in thin snowpack areas and may be triggered during the hotter parts of the day.

Travel early before the heat of the day, and avoid big slopes in the afternoon.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Apr 13th, 2016 4:00PM