Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Apr 25th, 2023–Apr 26th, 2023

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

Below Threshold

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable

Below Treeline

Below Threshold

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold

Alpine

4: High

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high

Treeline

4: High

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be high

Below Treeline

4: High

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be high

Regions: Little Yoho.

Start and finish early to take advantage of better travel and a lower likelihood of upper snowpack avalanches while the surface snow remains frozen.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Some small loose wet avalanches have been observed in the past few days on steep solar aspects or at low elevations with daytime warming. A size 3 skier-triggered avalanche failing on the basal facets occurred in a closed area within the Lake Louise ski resort on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

1-4 cm new snow. Solar aspects are getting moist in the afternoon, creating new crusts daily, and multiple buried crusts are present. On northerly aspects, temperature crusts are present up to 2200 m, with 10-20 cm of preserved surface snow above this elevation and some wind transport at ridge crests. In shallow areas the base of the snowpack remains weak due to the presence of facets.

Weather Summary

Some clearing tonight, followed by building clouds and flurries or rain below 2100 m on Wednesday. Winds will increase to WSW strong. Afternoon freezing levels will climb further to 23-2500 m. Freezing levels will fall to the valley bottom at night.

Thursday, skies clear, winds diminish, and solar input becomes more of a factor.

Towards the weekend, temperatures climb with strong solar input and little to no overnight recovery.

Terrain and Travel Advice

A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

Watch for new snow instabilites especially in places where convective weather cells have deposited more snow. Areas with new snow over a crust, recently wind loaded slopes, or places where the surface snow is becoming moist are the main concerns.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2

Loose Wet

With rising daytime freezing levels, expect moist snow at lower elevations with the potential for wet loose avalanches to occur. Any sunny breaks will also contribute to this problem on steep solar aspects up into the alpine.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5