Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 16 – 17, 2013Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

We are on a slow healing trend after the big storm earlier in the week.  It will take a few days for the new snow to bond to the surfaces below.  SH

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Storm slabs 40-60cm thick are widespread at upper elevations.  Natural activity has tapered off, but these are still sensitive to human triggering.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Cooler temperatures will start to take some moisture out of the snow for Sunday, but will take a couple of clear nights to freeze.  Thin, steep, gullied terrain will be the most susceptible to triggering.

Weather Forecast

Lowering freezing levels to valley bottom, light to moderate SW winds and only light precipitation with cloudy conditions in the forecast for Sunday.  A continued cooling trend is forecast over the next few days with clearing skies on Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

40-60cm of recent storm snow is settling out as the temperatures start to cool down.  Moist snow below 1700m.  East of the divide there is a mainly faceted snowpack beneath the recent snow.  Thicker snowpack areas are found mainly West of the divide and have a well settled snowpack beneath the recent storm slabs.

Avalanche Summary

Explosive control at sunshine village produced 2 size 3's releasing on basal facets 1m deep and several size 2's confined to the recent storm snow.  These were 40-60cm deep.  One natural cornice release on Mt. Bosworth caused a size 3 within the storm snow within the last 24 hours. 

Confidence

on Sunday

Regions covered