Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Apr 10 – 11, 2015Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Ski quality is still decent on true North aspects. We expect limited solar activity on Saturday due to cloud cover, but watch locally for sun affect in the afternoon. SH

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Some small wind slabs may form over the next 24 hours in immediate lees of ridge crests. These will be reactive in the short term.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    There have been many reports of cornice chunks falling off of ridge crests which may be big enough a load to trigger an avalanche, or be enough mass themselves to be a hazard.

Weather Forecast

5-10 cm is expected Friday night into Saturday. Lesser amounts are forecast for the Sunshine/Banff regions. This will be accompanied by mod to strong westerly winds and freezing levels to valley bottom in the AM and 1600m on Saturday afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

On N aspects, 15-20 of loose facets overlies strong melt-freeze crusts up to 2300m. All other aspects have sun crust in the morning and moist snow in the afternoon. This buried crust provides a bridge over the basal facets which continue to remain dormant. The exception to this may be large loads such as a cornice falling on a thin snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Cloud cover prevented solar activity in many areas Friday, and no new avalanches were reported.

Confidence

Regions covered