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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 6th, 2024–Mar 7th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

"Patience" is the operative word for navigating decision-making related to the current avalanche hazard.

Continue to avoid avalanche terrain and areas with overhead hazard.

With recent winds, the sun coming out, and gradually warming; natural and human-triggering large avalanches are likely.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Ski hills in the region continue to see results from explosive control, both wind slab and Feb 3rd persistent avalanches up to size 2.

Continued evidence of the widespread natural cycle from several days ago up to size 3.5.

Snowpack Summary

50-90 cm of snow fell from Feb 23 to March 2. This snow is continuing 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. Mosquito Creek Profile

Weather Summary

Temperatures are forecasted to slowly increase over the next few days along with clearer skies and increased solar input. Winds will remain light with no fx precip.

Wed Night: Cloudy with clear periods. Alpine temps: Low -19 °C. Light ridge wind. No precip.

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temps: High -9 °C. Ridge wind west: 10-20 km/h. No precip.

Fri/Sat: Cloudy with sunny periods, and possible flurries.

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.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.