Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 25, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Make sure you know the definition of Moderate danger (click on the plus symbol to the right of the danger rating). Avalanche activity has subsided, but if you manage to trigger one from a thin spot, it will be very large.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The Feb 10 layer is touchier in the eastern portion of the forecast area, less in the west. In addition to Feb 10, the Mar 13 layer (suncrust on south aspects) can be found down 30-60cm. Snowpack tests on this layer have produced moderate results

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    The late March sun is packing a lot of punch. If the sky doesn't cloud over tmrw, we may see some natural activity out of steep rocky solar terrain.

Weather Forecast

Tues: cold and clear with clouds moving in in the afternoon and freezing levels rising to around 1800m. Snow should start late Tues night and we may see 20-30cm by Wed night. Winds will be light to moderate from the SW throughout, switching to S with the storm on Tues night. Thurs: light snow and gradual clearing as the system passes

Snowpack Summary

30-60cm of storm snow with little wind effect is bonding well. A surface sun crust was formed today on solar aspects. E of the divide, the Mar 13 sun-crust/facet layer is down 30-60 cm on S aspects, and the Feb 10 crust/facet layer is down 60-100cm and still whumphing in thin areas. W of the divide, the Feb 10 is deeper (80-150cm) and less reactive

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported today in the forecast region. However, a few large skiier triggered avalanches in the Columbias and K-Country over the last couple days have been surprising professionals and indicate that the weak layers still exist and can be triggered by humans in specific areas.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Regions covered