Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 17th, 2014 5:40PM

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.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The snowpack remains touchy with potential for triggering large destructive avalanches in most of the forecast region. Be patient and stick to conservative terrain. Watch for the effects of daytime heating on cornices and steep solar slopes as well.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Alpine temperatures between -4`C and -14`C with occasional light flurries and a few sunny breaks are forecast for the next couple days. Winds will be light out of the West. Solar aspects will see temperatures climb quickly when the sun comes out.

Snowpack Summary

15cm of new snow overnight which seems to be bonding well with the previous surfaces. The Feb.10th facet layer is down 80-120cm and is still showing easy to moderate test results in thinner snowpack areas, and harder results in deeper snowpack areas. Areas with buried sun crust are especially touchy.

Avalanche Summary

Several new natural avalanches up to size 3 were observed today in the Lake Louise area failing on the Feb 10th layer, as well as a cornice triggered size 2. A skier remote size 3 was triggered today from 800m away on the SW aspect of Mt Daly while descending to Sherbrooke Lake. This was also likely on the Feb 10th layer. Things are still touchy!

Confidence

Problems

Persistent Slabs

The Feb 10th layer continues to produce whumphs, natural and remote avalanches and skier triggered avalanches. It is especially sensitive in thinner or cross loaded snowpack areas and places with a buried sun crust.

Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.Avoid areas with overhead hazard.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Storm Slabs

The recent storm slabs are between 40 and 80cm thick. In general they seem to be bonding well but use caution in steep or wind loaded features.

If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 18th, 2014 4:00PM