Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Apr 12 – 13, 2015Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 11 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Strong wind today is creating wind slabs at ridge crest in lee areas. Please read the explanation for spring conditions here.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Strong wind from the NW has created wind slabs on lee aspects up to 50cm thick. These are reactive to skier traffic and have been failing naturally in some locations. Expect sluffing in any steep terrain as well.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    There have been many reports of cornice chunks falling off of ridge crests which may be big enough a load to trigger an avalanche on the basal facets, or be enough mass to be a hazard themselves.

Weather Forecast

Cool temps (-12 to -15 @ 3000m) and very light snow fall is expected over the next three days. Wind will remain strong at high elevations from the NW until late Monday.

Snowpack Summary

20-30cm of new snow over the weekend with gusty SW through NW winds has created wind slabs in lee areas above treeline. The new snow sits on a firm crust on solar aspects up to ridge crests and up to 2300m on N aspects. This buried crust provides a bridge over the basal facets which remain dormant.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches observed or reported but the potential for triggering wind-slabs at ridge crest is definitely there today.

Confidence

Regions covered