Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Apr 22 – 23, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Spring time conditions exist. Pay attention to how strong the overnight freeze is and how quickly it warms during the day. Start your tours early and be home before it warms up.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Cornices weaken with day time heating. Field observations show numerous recent cornice collapses.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Loose wet avalanches are possible in the afternoon as a result of day time heating. Monitor how thick the crusts are and how quickly they break down during the day.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    Although unlikely it is still possible to trigger a slab avalanche on  one of the deep persistent layers. Skier triggering of this layer is more likely in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Forecast

Tonight brings scattered flurries and freezing levels near valley bottom. Wednesday brings a mix of sun and cloud with freezing levels near 2000 m. Thursday freezing levels may rise to 2400 m.

Snowpack Summary

Warm day time temperature and very mild overnight freezes are the current conditions. Moist snow in afternoon on solar aspects up to ridgetops and to 2400 m on polar aspects. Temperature crusts breaking down by mid-morning.

Avalanche Summary

Kootenay Park had a loose snow avalanche cycle yesterday afternoon. Surface loose snow avalanches up to Class 2 running out of steep rocky terrain. Debris generally running to top of runouts. No slab avalanches observed.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Wednesday

Regions covered