Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 8th, 2019 4:00PM

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

william lawson, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Snow forecasted for the week should improve ski conditions at higher elevations. Be diligent in your hazard management as you transition into the alpine.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Precipitation will begin mid-day Tuesdays followed by a series of weak frontal systems over the remainder of the week. By Saturday we could see over 30cm of snow at higher elevations in the forecast region. Freezing levels will fluctuate between 1000m to 2000m, this will likely results in rain at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

15cm of snow from the weekend has accumulated above treeline. Crust are present on most aspects and elevations excluding high North. On high North, 30cm of unconsolidated snow can be found. Below this, a stiff slab overlying weak facets remains a concern in some places. If any notable rain occurs, expect a loose wet problem to develop.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported today.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

A period of strong wind overnight on Saturday has created slabs in lee features in the alpine. Of note, evidence of these slabs were observed at the base of cones that are situated below couloirs. The windslabs were small in size (max size 1).

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 - 1.5

Persistent Slabs

A hard slab sitting over weak facets up to 60cm down remains a concern where found: mainly on N aspects in the alpine. We have seen a few human triggered avalanches in steep, isolated features such as moraines and glacier rolls over the past week.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 9th, 2019 4:00PM