Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 24th, 2018 4:11PM

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

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Watch gullied terrain and terrain traps if it gets sunny. Watch for surface slabs and near surface slabs in large openings and areas of high consequence.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cooler temperatures will continue through Sunday, sky's will remain cloudy with a few breaks mid day. Snow is expected in the western part of the forecast region starting late Monday.Â

Snowpack Summary

Cooler temps this weekend will keep lower elevation melt free crusts intact. On solar aspects this crust is present to ridgetop. Small wind slabs found in the high alpine. Concern still exists for last weeks storm snow where it sits on a buried suncrust (down 20-30 cm) on south and west aspects. Shallow snowpack areas are also still a concern.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanches activity has tapered today, no reports of back country observations. Local ski patrol triggered surface slabs to size 2.5 with large explosive out of extreme terrain.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind slabs and wind effect can be found in the alpine. Wind slabs are unlikely to release naturally but can be triggered by skiers and climbers especially near ridge crest.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Concern still exists for last weeks storm snow (20-30 cm) where it overlies a crust on solar aspects. Some recent avalanches have been observed on this interface.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 25th, 2018 4:00PM