Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 28 – 29, 2022
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

The hazard will be low in the morning but will increase through the day as the surface crust breaks down with solar input and rising freezing levels.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    After several days of warm temperatures cornices are weak and susceptible to failure. Cornices may trigger larger avalanches on slopes below.

  • Loose Wet

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

    Warming daytime temperatures and high freezing levels will increase the possibility of a loose wet problem at treeline and below in the afternoon. Even short period of solar inputs may cause a rapid deterioration of the snowpack.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud on Tuesday with freezing levels up to 2100m and light west winds. Cooler temperatures and increasing cloudiness with isolated flurries expected on Wednesday and Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Surface melt freeze crusts exist on all aspects up to approx. 2300m. On high elevation north aspects dry snow can be found. The mid-pack is well settled but has several persistent layers consisting of crusts and/or facets. These are currently unreactive to skier triggering but may wake up as spring heat penetrates the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

A ski touring party reported a cornice triggered size three slab on the north side of Cathedral Peak on Sunday. The local ski hills reported size one skier triggered wet loose avalanches below treeline on Monday.

Regions covered