Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Apr 2 – 3, 2019Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Forecasters have transitioned to springtime danger ratings. Early starts and finishes are crucial. Avalanche danger relates directly to solar input and daytime warming.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–2
    Dry snow remains on alpine, north aspect slopes. We have not seen an avalanche regarding this problem for a while, but continue to observe the weakness in snowpack assessments. Heads up - if anywhere could release a dry slab it would be here.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    Likely a cooler day with forecasted cloud cover for Wed and crusts will likely remain intact for the day. Should the forecasted weather be inaccurate, monitor the solar input and daytime heating to avoid any gully features where wet snow may run.

Weather Forecast

Likely a cooler day tomorrow with some cloud to moving in this evening and building tomorrow with a few flurries expected by late afternoon.  Winds will be mostly light  SW with occasional gusts.  Avalanche danger is related directly to solar input and and warming daytime temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface is melt-freeze crust on all areas except alpine and treeline north and east aspects where there's up to 20 cm of old soft snow.  There is still concern for a buried facet layer in the upper 30 cm of the snowpack on alpine N aspects and pockets of unconsolidated snow.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed today. There have been several small cornice failures over the past w days associated with the warmest parts of the day.

Confidence

Regions covered