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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

May 3rd, 2024–May 4th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Little Yoho, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

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.

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.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.