Avalanche Forecast

Issued: May 9th, 2014 4:03PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Wet.

Lisa Paulson, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

After this pulse of light precipitation, we will again be into a spring daily cycle where hazard will correspond how well the crusts hold up through the day. Great skiing can still be found on steeper north aspects in the alpine.

Summary

Weather Forecast

5-10 cm up high overnight and drizzle to treeline. Winds will remain light N. Skies will be cloudy overnight and Saturday for most of the region, with more broken skies to the North. Good freeze forecasted Sat. night. Skies clear for Sunday & solar affect and daytime warming will again be factors in increasing the hazard through the day.

Snowpack Summary

North facing slopes hold 20 cm of dry powder with no shears underlying, and all other aspects up to 3000 m have a melt/freeze crust on the surface. This crust is breakable in many places, but began to hold the weight of a skier (just) on steep south facing terrain at 2400 meters. Very little precipitation over the day, may see 5 cm overnight.

Avalanche Summary

One size 2.5 slid to ground on a SW aspect in Richardson's Bowl near Lake Louise ski area. It initiated just below the cliffs and went sometime in the last 24 hrs.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

10 cm of new snow may sluff easily in steep terrain and gather mass as it moves. Rain at lower elevations may trigger wet avalanches in steep terrain.

Avoid travelling on ledges and cliffs where sluffing may have severe consequences.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: May 10th, 2014 4:00PM