Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Apr 29 – 30, 2019Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 7 years ago

Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

Cooler temps and flurries for the next few days should keep the loose wet problem at bay, but pay attention if the sun does appear as it wouldn't take much to trigger loose wet avalanches involving the new snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Up to 40 cm from the weekends storm coupled with strong to moderate wind has formed a slab over a variety of old wind slabs, crusts and facets in the alpine. The likelihood of avalanches is on the way down, but will persist for a few more days.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2

    We have seen some evidence of lingering deeper instabilities in the alpine from various crust and facets layers in April. These have been triggered by cornice falls and wind slabs. Keep checking for these weaknesses in steep alpine features.

Weather Forecast

Expect convective afternoon flurries for the next couple of days. Temperatures will stay cool with a northerly component to the wind. This kind of weather pattern can result in some locally deep accumulations, so pay close attention to where you travel.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40cm of snow fell over the weekend at higher elevations. Strong winds during the storm did some loading, but the storm ended calm and cold. While the new snow should settle rapidly, be suspicious of its bond to the old snow and of the facets interfaces below. Supportive crusts exist below this new snow on solar aspects & at lower elevations.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was observed or reported in the past 2 days.

Confidence

Regions covered