Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

May 3 – 4, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
No rating
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Highlights

The hazard rating is for the highest danger for the day.

The deterioration could happen fast with the forecasted warmer temps, sunny skies, and light winds.

Start very early and finish early.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Loose wet and dry avalanche activity will likely increase with solar input and/or daytime warming.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Recent load with warming may be enough to reawaken this layer. Cornice failures will also be more likely and may trigger the deeper layers.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, numerous dry and wet loose natural avalanches to size 1.5 were observed on all aspects. No new wind slab avalanches were reported.

On Thursday, a size 2 skier accidental on a North aspect adjacent to the ski hill failed as a wind slab on a crust at the storm snow interface.

Also on Thursday, a size 3 deep persistent slab on a north aspect was reported just to the west of BNP.

Snowpack Summary

A new surface crust caps last week's storm snow which settled to 20-40 cm. The recent snow overlays older crusts on all aspects except north (above 2400m) where it overlays dry snow.

The mid-pack Feb 3 persistent layer (crust/facet layer) and basal depth hoar remain features in the snowpack . These layers are a greater concern in thin snowpack areas on north slopes above 2300m.

Weather Summary

A warming trend for Fri-Sun.

Fri night: Freezing level down to valley bottom (1400 m), alpine low -4 °C with clear periods.

Sat: Alpine high 4 °C, mostly light ridge wind SE 10- 35 km/h, freezing level to 2500 m.

Sat night: Less of a freeze with an 1800 m freezing level.

Sun: Alpine highs of 8 °C with freezing levels reaching 2900 m.

Sun/Mon: A pulse of rain and snow is expected.

For more detailed weather click here.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.

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