Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 1st, 2016 4:15PM

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

aaron beardmore, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The current weakness in the snowpack will take time to heal. We are enduring another period of 'low likelihood high consequence' relating to avalanche risk. Don't go rocketing in to big terrain yet.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The same pattern continues. Light precip overnight with light to moderate West wind. Freezing level will remain below surface.

Snowpack Summary

The Feb 11 layer of sun crust and isolated surface hoar is down 20 to 50cm. The Jan 6 layer of faceted crystals is the dominant snowpack feature and is down about 50-70cm. Snowpack test produced no results on this layer today in Lake Louise. However, forecasters still have low confidence.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches to report.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Generally the snowpack has a weak midsection throughout the BYK region. Both the Feb 11 and Jan 6 layers produce significant shears in tests. Human triggering of large avalanches that could step down to the ground is a real possibility.

Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

The possibility of small windslabs exists in alpine lee areas. Watch for these at the local level.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 2nd, 2016 4:00PM