Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 12th, 2013 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.

Snow Safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Snow and strong wind expected tonight and tomorrow morning. Temperatures will remain cold for the weekend - the return to winter continues...(LP)

Summary

Weather Forecast

We expect some snow tonight and tomorrow morning (~10-15 cm) with strong Southerly wind.Â Winds will switch to moderate to strong Northerly winds as the system passes tomorrow.Â Expect convective flurries for the remainder of the weekend and freezing levels will remain low.

Snowpack Summary

There was 10-15 cm overnight. There is some wind effect in the alpine that has created isolated soft slabs in immediate lee terrain. These slabs overlay 10-30 cm of previous storm snow, which rests on suncrusts on solar aspects and facetted snow on polar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches observed or reported.Â

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Watch for isolated soft slabs in the lee of alpine features. These were obvious to see and avoid today, but will be blanketed by new snow tonight. Moderate to strong southerly wind tonight and north wind tomorrow add to the current slab condition.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.The recent snow may now be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

Loose snow avalanches involving the storm snow running underlying crusts can be expected to accompany snowfall and increase in winds forecasted for tonight and tomorrow. This is a definite concern for skiers and climbers in gully/couloir features.

Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.Avoid travelling under cliffs that are exposed to sluffing from above.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 13th, 2013 4:00PM