Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 11th, 2014 4:37PM

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.

brian webster, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Touchy avalanche conditions continue. Now is the time to avoid all avalanche terrain.Avalanche control will be conducted on Mt. Stephen and Mt. Dennis on Wednesday. Please no skiing or climbing in these areas.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Another sunny day on Wednesday with freezing levels around 1800 m. Cooler temperatures and some isolated flurries forecast for Thursday and Friday.

Snowpack Summary

85-100cm of storm snow has fallen in the Sunshine, Kootenay and Yoho areas, with 40-60cm around Lake Louise and Bow Summit since Mar 2nd. This storm snow has overloaded the Feb 10th layer of facets, surface hoar and sun crust, and in thinner snowpack areas, the deeper basal facet layer, causing large, destructive avalanches with wide propagations.

Avalanche Summary

A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred in past 48 hours on all aspects and elevations. Two large remotely skier triggered avalanches were reported yesterday in the Lake Louise area. Natural cycle appears to be over but conditions remain very touchy and reactive to skier triggering.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Natural avalanche cycle is over but conditions are still very touchy and ripe for skier triggering. Any avalanche triggered has the potential to be very large.

Avoid areas with overhead hazard.Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Storm Slabs

Storm slab is still touchy and has potential to step down to deeper persistent layers.

Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 12th, 2014 4:00PM