Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 10 – 11, 2015Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Spring like conditions exist. Pay attention to how warm it is getting and how strong the overnight recovery is. Valley bottoms may become isothermal. Start and end your tours early.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    The warm temperatures will create wet sluffs and rockfall on south facing slopes and gullies at and below treeline. Ice climbers should avoid this terrain, and instead search for north facing climbs where the cold temperatures will keep things solid.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3
    The lower half of the snowpack is weak due to the presence of basal facets and depth hoar. This layer has been dormant lately but may waken up with the warm temperatures. Avoid steep, open, rocky slopes with a shallow snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday will be mainly cloudy with some isolated flurries at upper elevations. Freezing levels will rise to 2100 m. Continued warm temperatures with little precipitation through the end of the week.

Snowpack Summary

Generally well settled mid pack with with weaker facets and depth hoar in basal pack. Moist snow on solar aspects below 2000 m. Very isolated wind slabs may be found near ridge tops in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

One skier triggered wind slab (size 1.5) on a south slope at 3000 m reported from the Wapta on Tuesday. Several loose wet avalanches up to Class 1.5 on solar aspects.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Regions covered