Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Little Yoho, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
Great ski conditions on sheltered, north aspects. The sun packs a punch this time of year, climbers avoid sun-exposed gullies which will avalanche in the afternoon. Thursday might be the last good day for a few days as a major warm-up and avalanche cycle will start on Friday. Get up early and be home early.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Sunshine Village snow safety reported one size 2, cornice triggered by explosives that triggered a persistent slab below (Feb 3 interface) and ran 260 m. This is a shaded aspect in the alpine. Otherwise, no new avalanches were observed or reported today but we had limited observations.
Snowpack Summary
20 cm of recent snow is settling and becoming moist in the afternoon at valley bottoms and on sun-exposed slopes but remains cold and dry on north aspects. Morning surface crusts on solar aspects. 60-90 cm of settled snow overlies weak facets above the Feb 3 crust interface which exists up to at least 2500 m and is producing avalanches. The base of the snowpack consists of weak facets. Deeper snowpack areas (west of the divide) are more settled and stronger.
Weather Summary
Thursday looks like a great day, then prepare for a major warm-up! Starting on Thursday, a ridge of high pressure will give clear skies, light winds and rising temperatures across the region. Temps should remain cool in the shade on Thursday and the real warm-up begins on Friday. Freezing levels are forecasted as follows:
Thursday 1700 m; Friday 2700 m; Saturday 3200 m.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
50-90 cm of settled snow overlies weak facets above the Feb 3 interface which is a crust in most areas. Many natural, human, and explosive-triggered avalanches have occurred on this layer in the past week and human triggering of this persistent weak layer remains likely in many areas.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Loose Wet
This is an afternoon problem once the sun hits the south and west-facing slopes, especially around rocks. Ice climbers avoid big south-facing gullies.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
Some recent avalanches have stepped down to the weak facet and depth hoar layers near the base of the snowpack resulting in large avalanches. This seems to be most common in thin, steep, rocky terrain in the alpine. Continue to treat large alpine features with caution.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5