Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 9 – 10, 2012Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 15 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Strong to extreme W. winds, freezing levels to 2000m and up to 10cm of snow (drizzle at lower elevations) will keep the hazard elevated on Friday. A few large natural avalanches were observed today, and it still feels spooky out there. SH

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Strong NW winds over the last 24-hours have created windslab conditions in open areas at higher elevations. These have been reported to be fairly stubborn to trigger today at Sunshine Village,

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–4
    The Valentine surface hoar down up to 90cm is overlain by a stiff slab and remains very sensitive to triggers. Natural activity has slowed somewhat,but a few solar releases (Urs Hole) to size 3 were seen. Some slopes have reloaded over the last day.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    The deep facets in the Rockies snowpack are awake again. These have mainly been observed on bigger features where the weight of the initial avalanche triggers the basal depth hoar, causing very large avalanches.

Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

Avalanche Summary

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday

Regions covered