Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 18th, 2014 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Storm Slabs.

aaron beardmore, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Touchy conditions persist. Be vigilant when making terrain and snowpack decisions and consider the potential consequences until things improve, and this could be quite a few days.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Up to 14mm of precip is expected to fall over the forecast region between Wednesday night and Friday. Freezing levels will remain well below surface and the wind will ease off to light at 3000m on Friday. This moderate weather input will not affect the danger rating to a large degree.

Snowpack Summary

15cm of new snow overnight which seems to be bonding well with the previous surfaces. The Feb.10th facet layer is down 80-120cm and is still showing easy to moderate test results in thinner snowpack areas, and harder results in deeper snowpack areas. Areas with buried sun crust are especially touchy.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches were observed or reported today.

Confidence

Track of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Wednesday

Problems

Persistent Slabs

We are seeing less activity with this problem as the days go by. It is still touchy and what is left is a low likelihood but high consequence situation if it is triggered.

Avoid areas with overhead hazard.Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Storm Slabs

The storms slabs will continue to settle. However, as they settle, they will become more cohesive and the likelihood of triggering will be the same for a few days yet.

If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 19th, 2014 4:00PM