Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 18, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 13 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

The snowpack remains touchy with potential for triggering large destructive avalanches in most of the forecast region. Be patient and stick to conservative terrain. Watch for the effects of daytime heating on cornices and steep solar slopes as well.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    The Feb 10th layer continues to produce whumphs, natural and remote avalanches and skier triggered avalanches. It is especially sensitive in thinner or cross loaded snowpack areas and places with a buried sun crust.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    The recent storm slabs are between 40 and 80cm thick. In general they seem to be bonding well but use caution in steep or wind loaded features.

Weather Forecast

Alpine temperatures between -4`C and -14`C with occasional light flurries and a few sunny breaks are forecast for the next couple days. Winds will be light out of the West. Solar aspects will see temperatures climb quickly when the sun comes out.

Snowpack Summary

15cm of new snow overnight 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

Several new natural avalanches up to size 3 were observed today in the Lake Louise area failing on the Feb 10th layer, as well as a cornice triggered size 2. A skier remote size 3 was triggered today from 800m away on the SW aspect of Mt Daly while descending to Sherbrooke Lake. This was also likely on the Feb 10th layer. Things are still touchy!

Confidence

Regions covered