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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 22nd, 2013–Mar 23rd, 2013
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Nice weather this weekend will tempt people to step out into bigger terrain.  Avoid steep, thin snowpack areas, especially East of the divide where triggering of large avalanches is possible.  SH

Weather Forecast

Light Northerly flow with weak convective afternoon buildup Saturday.  No new snow in the forecast and minimal solar effect with freezing levels up to 1600m.

Snowpack Summary

W of Divide: Generally well settled snowpack in deeper areas. Previous storm slabs buried by 20-40cm at TL and above.  Some whumpfing today at ridgetop in thinner areas on facets above Vermillion crossing. E of Divide:harder wind slabs over a variety of surfaces from sun crust, facets, and depth hoar. Sensitive to human triggering in thin areas.

Avalanche Summary

Deep persistent slab avalanches have been occurring on basal facets this week. One such avalanche was remote triggered in the Observation Peak area and was up to 175cm deep. Click here for another avalanche on Redoubt Mountain (E of divide) from March 19th.  Obs. from Yoho today saw natural slabs up to 2.5 within the recent storm snow in the Alp.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations on Friday

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

Watch out for thin areas especially East of the divide where it is possible to trigger or remote trigger deep slabs on basal facets or crusts.  Be conservative with terrain choices in bigger terrain.
Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Wind Slabs

New windslabs have formed on lee aspects, much thicker West of the divide where more new snow has fallen. Up to 40cm was reported over the last few days in Yoho, followed by a wind event on the 21st. Crown depths of 60cm reported there, 
Avoid freshly wind loaded features.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3