Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

May 15 – 16, 2014Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

This is the last regular bulletin. We will update it if there are significant changes. For specific condition information during spring and summer, see Parks Mountain Safety, the Mountain Condition Reports or contact Visitor Safety at 403-762-1470.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    With warm temperatures cornices will become weak and fail. Minimize your exposure to cornices and keep a close eye on the temperatures and solar effect on the slopes above you.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Intense sun, daytime heating or high overnight freezing levels will result in loose wet avalanches out of steep terrain. Start trips early and plan to be out of avalanche terrain before things heat up.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The basal facets have not been a problem for some time however with any sustained periods of warm temperatures or intense rain or wet snow events we may see large wet slabs failing on this layer.

Weather Forecast

A light freeze Friday morning, then a mix of  sun and cloud with freezing levels up to mountain top by Friday afternoon. Saturday through Monday we expect rain at lower elevations with wet snow in the alpine and precipitation accumulations between 30-45mm. Daytime freezing levels are forecast between 2500m and 3200m with little recovery overnight.

Snowpack Summary

Spring conditions now exist. After cool clear nights a firm melt freeze crust is present which deteriorates with daytime heating. Below 2000m the snowpack is mostly isothermal. Above 2000m the snowpack is generally supportive with the surface becoming moist with daytime heating. Weak basal facets are still present in many locations.

Avalanche Summary

The last week has seen lots of loose wet slides at lower elevations and on steep solar aspects up to size 2.5 with daytime heating. Several cornice failures have also been observed. No recent slab avalanches have been observed however with any sustained warming or major rain events we expect to see increased avalanche activity on the basal facets.

Confidence

Regions covered