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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 9th, 2021–Apr 10th, 2021

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

More wind slab development at upper elevations will keep the avalanche hazard elevated Saturday.

Uncertainty exists around the persistent layers in the snowpack, as some deep releases have occurred recently and lowered our confidence.

Weather Forecast

5 to 10cm of snow starting Friday night into Saturday, this new snow will be redistributed by moderate to strong wind in the alpine. These winds are expected to tapper throughout the day. Temps will stay cool this weekend with freezing levels remaining at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30cm of new snow now buries a crust up to 1800m, higher on steep solar aspects. New wind slab growth in the alpine down into tree line. Several persistent layers exist in the mid to lower snowpack and have been responsible for several large avalanches. These layers will remain a concern for some time due to their uncertainty.

Avalanche Summary

A loose dry avalanche cycle occurred with increased winds Friday. Over the past week we have observed and received reports of several cornice failures and small slab releases digging down and triggering deep releases up to size 3.5.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.