Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Watch for intense outbreaks of sun and wet snowpack areas. Reduce your risk by getting out early and finishing early, while the snowpack is still cold.
Weather Forecast
Cold Friday night, then any possible combination of warm, sun, cloud, rain and snow. Not much of anything is expected, so be aware if it is sunny or rainy for a while where you are that conditions may be worsening.
Snowpack Summary
We are moving towards a spring snowpack with isothermal releases in thin areas and on sun-exposed slopes. Risk is greatly reduced by finishing the day early before things heat up.
Avalanche Summary
Loose wet avalanches were noted again today.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Wet Slabs
Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.