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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Apr 2nd, 2023–Apr 3rd, 2023
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
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
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
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

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

There's a lot of uncertainty with the snowfall amounts due to the convective nature of this incoming weather system. The considerable danger rating will only materialize if we received the higher forecasted snowfall amounts.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported or observed today.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm of new snow buries sun crusts to ridgetop and temperature crusts below 1500m.

The March 25 interface is down 5 to 15 cm and the March 12 interface is down 15 to 30cm. Both of these are represented by crusts on solar aspects and facets on shaded slopes.

The January sun crust and facet interface is down 40 to 120cm.

The November depth hoar at the base of the snowpack remains weak.

Weather Summary

An upslope weather system will bring 5-20cm of snow to the forecast region with greater snowfall amounts on the Eastern slopes. The convective nature of the weather system could deposit an even greater amount of snow than forecasted. Winds will remain relatively light and freezing levels near valley bottom.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
  • If triggered, loose dry avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Both the January and November weak layers remain a concern for triggering. Avalanches have been running full path mainly resulting from recent warming. Snowpack tests continue to produce moderate to hard sudden collapse results.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3.5

Loose Dry

The forecasted snow amount varies from 5cm to 25cm overnight Sunday. In areas where snowfall accumulation is greater, we can expect loose dry avalanche activity in steep terrain. This problem will be a greater concern where it overlays a crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5