Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
Good skiing with "dust on crust conditions", but pay attention to the solar radiation and how quickly the day is warming up.
Confidence
No Rating
Avalanche Summary
Several small loose dry avalanches in the storm snow reported out of immediate lees in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
There is 10-20 storm snow at treeline over top of well developed crusts on solar aspects (to ridgetop), and on crusts at all all aspects treeline and below. On north facing alpine slopes there is 20-30 cm of dry snow over firmer surfaces. The March 27 crust is 30-70 cm deep and extends to about 2500m. Below the settled mid-pack, there are still weak facets and depth hoar to the ground.
Weather Summary
A ridge of high pressure will begin building on Tuesday and be well established by Wednesday morning. Winds are forecast to be light on Tuesday with Freezing Level rising to 2000m.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
The forecast is for sunny periods on Tuesday and solar radiation could be strong enough to create loose wet avalanches in the storm snow on southerly aspects.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Loose Dry
10-20 cm of recent storm snow sluffing on harder bed surfaces below. With minimal wind expect a dry loose problem, but may act as a small slab if winds pick up.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Persistent Slabs
An 80 cm thick midpack slab sits over a weaker, facetted base. On most slopes, recent sun crusts and a buried March 27 rain crust cap this slab, adding strength. We suspect it would take a large trigger, like a cornice or a human in a very steep, thin area, to get this going.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3