Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 30th, 2014 4:00PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is high, and the below treeline rating is high. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.

Lisa Paulson, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

There will not be a strong freeze tonight - skies will be cloudy with some clear periods and freezing levels will only dip to approximately 2500 m. Crusts will not form well tonight and will break down early.

Summary

Weather Forecast

There will not be a strong freeze tonight.Â Freezing levels will only dip to 2500 m for a short period tonight and a slight temperature inversion is expected.Â Thurs will be cloudy with some sun alpine temps of 10-14C &Â showers/flurries move in overnight. Friday temperatures will drop through the day, with 5-10 cm/day forecasted for Fri/Sat & Sun.

Snowpack Summary

A solid melt freeze crust to exists up to 2400 m, a little lower on North aspects. Dry uncrusted snow with up to 10cm of settled powder exists only steeper North aspects. Isolated, small windslabs exist in leeward areas in the high alpine. Crusts will not be as strong Thursday with a lack of overnight freeze and a slight inversion forecasted.

Avalanche Summary

Several loose snow avalanches to size 2.5 pouring off cliffs with sun affect as early as 8 am.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Without a good freeze tonight and warm temps on Thursday, it would not be a surprise to see the odd large avalanche on this layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

3 - 4

Loose Wet

Expect loose avalanches in steep sun affected terrain initiating from cornice failures or snow falling off cliffs/rocks.

Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: May 1st, 2014 4:00PM