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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 22nd, 2020–Mar 23rd, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

New snow, wind and warmer temperatures will elevate the avalanche danger on Monday. Narrow gullies and steep rocky terrain may have small natural avalanches. Step back to more moderate terrain choices until the new snow has a chance to bond.

Weather Forecast

Snow is expected Sunday night and Monday with total amounts ranging from 10-15 cm depending on the elevation. Winds will increase into the moderate to strong range out of the SW on Monday before dropping down to light again on Tuesday. Freezing levels stay just above valley bottom and some areas could see rain at lower elevations on Monday. 

Snowpack Summary

2-5 cm of new snow in eastern areas of the forecast region on Saturday night. Widespread wind effect in the alpine and down into treeline. Sun crusts on solar aspects and buried sun crusts on steep solar aspects. In thin snow pack areas a dense mid-pack sits over a weak faceted base, while deep snowpack areas have a solid base.

Avalanche Summary

Several solar triggered small loose avalanches observed in the past several days and some skier triggered surface sluffing in steep terrain up to size 1.5.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.