Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 8 – 9, 2013Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Extra caution advised in areas where the storm slab overlies a weak, faceted base (east of the Divide and near ridge crests).

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3
    The storm slab is becoming more cohesive as a layer and bonding to older surfaces. While this is good in areas of a deeper snowpack (west of the Divide), this will continue to create touchy slabs east of the Divide and in thin, weak areas.

Weather Forecast

Tomorrow and Saturday, mainly sunny except morning overcast/broken cloud over the southern regions. Freezing level to remain below 1200m, with alpine high's up to -7*. Winds light from the NW.

Snowpack Summary

The storm snow from last weekend continues to strengthen as a unit, with no obvious shears within it. It also seems to be bonding reasonably well to the underlying snow surfaces. However, in areas of thinner snowpacks (east of the Divide) and on steeper, southern aspects, the storm slab remains touchy and human triggering to size 3 is possible.

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday, a group of skiers remotely triggered, from 100m away, a size 3 slab near Dolomite Peak. They reported it failed on a S aspect and the crown was up to 2m thick. A field team behind the Lake Louise ski area noted several whumph's along open, tree-line features, and as a result, skied conservatively with little confidence in open slopes.

Confidence

Regions covered