Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 30 – 31, 2018Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Saturday looks like a great day to be out in the mountains, but the avalanche risk is elevated because of Friday's storm. Stick with more conservative terrain choices until better information is known about how the new snow is bonding.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2.5
    The new snow Friday arrived with strong SW winds and formed wind slabs in lee areas. Some older wind slabs will now be buried in specific features at upper elevations as well. This new snow will need a few days to settle and bond.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5
    The buried March 15th sun crust is down 25-50cm and has provided a good sliding layer for several skier triggered avalanches over the past week. The new snow load may make this more touchy so avoid steep solar aspects until this has a chance to bond.

Weather Forecast

A clearing trend is expected on Saturday with light winds and cool temperatures between -10 and -15'C during the day. Sunday will see a 3-5 cm's of new snow, continued light winds and slightly warmer temperatures.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of new snow on Friday with strong W winds has formed wind slabs in lee features down to treeline. The March 15 sun crust is down 30-50 cm on solar aspects and has been sensitive to skier triggering over the last week. The mid- pack and basal layers have been dormant, but shallow facetted snowpack areas are still worth treating cautiously.

Avalanche Summary

Some explosive triggered wind slabs up to size 2 where observed at the local ski areas Friday but observations were limited. Thursday there were a few cornice triggered wind slabs up to size 2 in the Bow Hut area and Sunshine Village. Several skier triggered slides on steep solar aspects have occurred in the past week on the persistent sun crust.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

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