Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 24th, 2015 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 Cornices, Loose Dry and Loose Wet.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Stormy cool weather has deposited some new snow up high in the alpine creating a new windslab problem. The sun will be out this weekend so head's up with the daytime heating. Spring time - start early, finish early especially on south slopes.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A largely unsettled cold air mass will bring about convective showers and generally calm winds over the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm's of new snow in the high alpine. Intermittent gusty westerlies developing windslabs up to 30cm's in specific areas in the alpine. Firm crusts up to 10 cms thick remain intact at most elevations below the new snow surface.

Avalanche Summary

Some loose dry avalanches have observed in high alpine today up to size 1.5. Small windslabs sitting on the recent crusts are reactive to skier triggering have been reported up on the Wapta Icefield.

Confidence

Problems

Cornices

There have been many cornice failures over the past week, and in isolated events have been enough load to trigger deeper basal layers.

Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Loose Dry

Recent snow has accumulated in the alpine and moderate gusty winds have created windslabs up to 30cm's in depth which appear to be easily triggerable by skiers.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Monitor the temperature and the sun's impact on solar slopes as the winds will be quite calm the next 48 hours.

Start and finish early before the surface crusts melt.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 25th, 2015 4:00PM