Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 31st, 2013 4:10PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wet Slabs and Cornices.

Snow Safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Travel is good but timing is everything now as the snow is becoming unstable with daytime heating. Get a very early start and be home on the deck before things start falling down JBW

Summary

Weather Forecast

Temperatures will continue to be warm with mainly clear skies. Each afternoon the freezing level rises and the temperatures slightly warmer.

Snowpack Summary

Another hot day with less overnight recovery resulted in a rash of late afternoon wet avalanches today. Cascade waterfall failed on the ground in a wet slab that ran to the bottom of the falls. The snowpack is stable when the crusts are intact, but have regard for what is happening on the slopes far above you.

Avalanche Summary

A serac fall triggered a size 3.5 slab on the east face of Mt. Lefroy estimated 1. 5 metres thick and 700m wide. Numerous wet sluffs and slabs to size three with afternoon heating.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Problems

Wet Slabs

Today there were many more loose wet and wet slab avalanches as the freezing level rose and there was less overnight freeze. Timing is critical to travel while crusts are intact and remember what may be happening in the sun above you.

Start and finish early before the surface crusts melt.Minimize exposure to sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Cornices

Cornice failures have increased in number as the freezing levels rise. They have been? triggering some slab avalanches, or have enough mass themselves to be a significant avalanche. Be aware of what is over your head.

Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Apr 1st, 2013 4:00PM