Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 11 – 12, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

The danger is Low/Low/Low in the morning, but rising with daytime warming and sun. Start and finish early and avoid exposure to solar aspects and cornices once the sun is out.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–1.5
    Alpine West winds formed windslabs last week. These are bonding, but in steep unsupported terrain, skier triggering is still possible.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Expect loose wet avalanches to initiate from steep rocky terrain. Watch for increasing hazard associated with prolonged sun affect. Finish very early, or better yet, avoid steep confined features all together.

Weather Forecast

Expect the daily diurnal temperature variation to continue, each day a little bit warmer than the last. Freezing levels will rise to ~2500m later in the week, and dropping to valley bottom overnight. Clear skies will also provide a condition for intense solar radiation. Wind will remain light from the SW.

Snowpack Summary

Facetted, wind effected snow exists in the alpine. A sun crust has formed on solar aspects at treeline and below. The deeper facet layers down 80-150 cm remain weak and are currently dormant, but could become active with the warm days ahead.

Avalanche Summary

Evidence of a loose wet avalanche cycle was isolated to steep solar gullies. Also observed were a few size 2 slabs on steep solar convex rolls.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Regions covered