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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 23rd, 2022–Apr 24th, 2022

Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

We have transitioned to spring conditions due to Daily Melt-Freeze Cycles beginning today. Early starts with early finishes are advised.

Weather Forecast

Clear weather on Sunday with freezing levels up to 2500m.  Alpine temps could be as warm as -5 and well above zero tree-line and below. Wind is expected to be in the moderate range from the SW. A diurnal cycle (melt freeze) is expected to begin Sunday and extend for at least 3 days.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 15cm of recent storm snow has fallen since late Thursday. This has fallen over a thin sun crust on solar aspects which overlies 10-20 cm of snow that fell on April 19/20 with significant wind to form wind slabs, mainly in the alpine. Several crusts are now buried in the snowpack on all but north aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Wet loose avalanches up to size 2 were observed at treeline and the alpine during a late afternoon flight. These avalanches were mainly occurring on solar aspects.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.