Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 14th, 2016 4:00PM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Loose Wet and Deep Persistent Slabs.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Start your day and end your day early; before things heat up.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Expect another cooler day for Friday with cloudy skies, scattered flurries. Saturday should see freezing levels rise to treeline, and on sun exposed slopes. Presently Saturday night is forecast to have very poor overnight recovery and Sunday may turn isothermal.

Snowpack Summary

Crusts remained intact through the day above 1600m. Below the crust, isothermal snow exists up to treeline on all aspects, and in thin alpine areas on S aspects. N aspects in the high alpine are more winter like. In many places the upper snowpack sits on a weaker deep persistent layer of rounding facets.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches observed or reported today.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Wet

All avalanche terrain should be avoided later in the day when the crust on top of the snowpack breaks down due to daytime heating. Cloud cover may reduce the likelihood of this on Thursday.

Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up. Travel early on frozen crusts before the heat of the day.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep facet layers remain weak especially in thin snowpack areas and may be triggered during the hotter parts of the day.

Travel early before the heat of the day, and avoid big slopes in the afternoon.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Apr 15th, 2016 4:00PM