Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 15th, 2018–Mar 16th, 2018

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The new snow is bonding poorly to the old snow and is presently touchy. Storm slabs will likely give way to wind slabs and should stabilize fairly quickly. Watch out for large open areas, or gullied terrain that can gain mass quickly.

Weather Forecast

Cooling night time temperatures and continued light snow and clouds should help stabilize the surface problem fairly quickly.

Snowpack Summary

North aspect snow is soft, cold and well settled with few weak layers of concern. 20-30 cm of new snow is forming a soft slab, often on melt-freeze layers and will take a few days to bond. Expect more new snow and windslabs in the alpine by Friday morning

Avalanche Summary

Poor visibility today - no avalanches noted. The local ski hills reported storm slabs running light but fast at all elevations and exposures..

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Loose Dry

The sun is strong right now and with this clear weather, it is destabilizing the snow on solar aspects in the afternoon. Generally these avalanches are running as loose wet and not stepping down to deeper layers, but the possibility remains.

Avoid ice climbs exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects during the middle of the day.Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5

Storm Slabs

Hot weather means cornice season, and this is the time when large mature cornices begin to fall off and the mountain sheds its snowpack. On ridges stay well away from cornices (they can reach back and get you), and avoid traveling under them.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2