Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Little Yoho, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
"Patience" is the operative word regarding decision-making right now. Clearer weather makes stepping out into bigger terrain tempting, but conditions are still primed for human triggering, and natural avalanches are possible.
The Mount Hector intermittent closure zone is closed on Friday for avalanche control.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, a natural size three avalanche was observed on Crystal Ridge (W/SW aspect in the alpine), with the sun likely the trigger. Sunshine Ski Area also reported some natural size 2 persistent slabs that occurred probably this AM on East aspects in the back of the Healy Creek drainage.
Snowpack Summary
Some thin crusts are forming on solar aspects. 40-80 cm of snow fell from Feb 23 to March 2. This snow continues to settle into soft slabs and has been blown into wind slabs at upper elevations. These slabs overlie the weak Feb 3 facet/crust layer that is down 40-80 cm and exists up to 2500 m and higher on solar aspects. The lower snowpack consists of several facet layers and depth hoar and is weak in shallow areas. Tak Falls profile from today
Weather Summary
Thursday night: Light to moderate W winds, valley bottom freezing levels and no snow.
Friday: Moderate to strong SW winds, freezing levels to 1500m and a mix of sun and cloud.
Saturday: Trace amounts of snow along the divide and mix of sun and cloud to the East. Moderate to strong winds and freezing levels to 1800m.
Sunday: 2-5cm along the divide and strong winds.
For more detailed weather information, click here.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain as temperatures increase.
- Remote triggering is a big concern, be aware of the potential for wide propagations and large, destructive avalanches at all elevations.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
40-80 cm of soft slab overlies the Feb 3 interface. Recently, many natural, human, and explosive-triggered avalanches have occurred on this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Wind Slabs
Recent storm snow has been redistributed into lee areas by moderate to strong winds from the W and NW. Look for locally deep deposition areas and avoid them.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
Some recent avalanches are stepping down to the weak basal facet and depth hoar layers near the ground resulting in large avalanches. This seems to be most common in thin, steep, rocky terrain in the alpine.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5