Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 19th, 2014 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Storm Slabs.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Watch locally for heavier snow amounts on Thursday. We still have lowered confidence in most avalanche terrain, especially in thin and variable snowpack areas. SH

Summary

Weather Forecast

10-15 cm is possible at upper elevations over the next 24 hours with light gusting moderate NW winds.Â Watch locally for more amounts as the forecasts are conflicting.Â Freezing levels will stay at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

35cm in the Sunshine area,50cm in the Lake Louise region since March 15th which seems to be bonding well with the previous surfaces. The Feb.10th facet layer is down 80-120cm and is still showing easy to moderate test results in thinner snowpack areas, and harder results in deeper snowpack areas. Areas with buried sun crust are especially touchy.

Avalanche Summary

No avalanches were observed or reported today. A large sz.3 cornice triggered avalanche was reported yesterday in the Sunshine back country.Â This failed on the Feb.10 interface and stepped to ground in thin areas. We have seen sporadic natural activity like this over the last week.Â

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Thursday

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Activity on the Feb.10th of facets, surface hoar and buried suncrust is starting to taper off, and it is a lowered likelihood with large consequences scenario. Some slides have been observed to step down to ground in thin snowpack areas.

Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.Avoid areas with overhead hazard.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Storm Slabs

Storm slabs formed in the last few days will be less sensitive to triggering as time goes on. Forecast snow may build on these on Thursday.

If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 20th, 2014 4:00PM