Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 20th, 2012 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Cornices and Loose Wet.

Snow Safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Conditions are good while frozen, but large triggers such as cornices are still creating full depth releases on the basal depth hoar/October crust. A sharp rise in temperatures with freezing levels reaching 3000 metres by Monday will increase Danger.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Snowpack Summary

Avalanche Summary

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Monday

Problems

Cornices

With warm temperatures and high freezing levels the very large cornices are beginning to fall off. A size 3.5 cornice triggered avalanche was observed today in Kootenay that was 400m wide up to 4 metres deep and ran 1100 metres to the creek.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

3 - 4

Loose Wet

Loose wet and some wet slab avalanches are running in lower elevations with daytime heating and solar effect. Be sure to travel only while frozen.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Apr 21st, 2012 4:00PM