Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 25th, 2014 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Variable precip amounts through the forecast area overnight and through the day Saturday is expected to give a nice reset to the stellar spring skiing already out there. Watch for shedding and sluffing from steeper terrain. DK

Summary

Weather Forecast

Potentially 15 cm in the higher elevations from this storm system overnight and through the day Saturday. Localized amounts may differ due to convective activity. Temps expected to remain seasonally cold to -6 to -3 with light winds. This precip will likely translate into rain below 1500ms and make it quite wet on low elevation ice climbs.

Snowpack Summary

The new snow will be sitting on a variety of surfaces depending on elevation and aspect. Sun and temperature crusts on solar aspects and lower elevations below 2000ms and expect some sluffing from any steep terrain. Isolated windslabs were reported in the high alpine (3000m) near ridges.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed or reported today.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Isolated windslabs have been reported in the higher Alp and has shown to be reactive to skier load.

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

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

The deep, persistent weakness remains in the snowpack. This problem appears dormant until the next big warm spell, but we continue to note it's presence.

Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Apr 26th, 2014 4:00PM