Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
Travel in the early morning hours and watch for sun-triggered wet loose avalanches.
Confidence
No Rating
Avalanche Summary
Sunshine patrol reported observing a distant cornice failure on the Monarch in the Sunshine backcountry. They estimated it was not larger than a size 1.5, and that it was unlikely to have triggered a slab. Otherwise, no avalanches observed or reported on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
There is up to 15cm of settled storm snow at treeline over top of well developed crusts on solar aspects (to ridgetop), and on crusts at all all aspects treeline and below. On north facing alpine slopes there is 20-30 cm of dry snow over firmer surfaces. The March 27 crust is 30-70 cm deep and extends to about 2500m. Below the settled mid-pack, there are still weak facets and depth hoar to the ground.
Weather Summary
Clear skies and light winds bring stable conditions. Valley temperatures will reach near 5°C, while ridgetops remain seasonably cold around -8°C. A cool, quiet pattern for early starts and fast travel.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
The recent storm snow may have cycled on Tuesday under strong afternoon solar input. However, with similar conditions expected Wednesday, wet loose avalanches remain possible.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Persistent Slabs
An 80 cm thick midpack slab sits over a weaker, facetted base. On most slopes, recent sun crusts and a buried March 27 rain crust cap this slab, adding strength. We suspect it would take a large trigger, like a cornice or a human in a very steep, thin area, to get this going.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3