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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 2nd, 2021–Mar 3rd, 2021

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

We will see clearing skies and the first major warmup of the spring so far over the next few days. Expect avalanche activity on solar aspects as the sun packs a punch this time of year!

Weather Forecast

A ridge is building over the region on Wednesday, bringing clear skies and easing winds. Temperatures look to be warm and there will be significant solar input on south through west aspects. Thursday and Friday look to be clear but with winds increasing which may help to keep temperatures cool.

Snowpack Summary

Strong SW winds have blown the recent storm snow into windslabs in alpine lee areas and exposed tree line slopes. In Kootenay and around Lake Louise we are tracking two persistent layers of facets and suncrust down 30-80 cm that are producing avalanches and test results. Heads up, these layers are isolated but have been reactive to skiiers recently

Avalanche Summary

Two close calls in the Simpson area of Kootenay Park last weekend. South aspect at treeline and below treeline in the burnt forest is the pattern. With the huge increase in skier traffic in this area, do not lose sight of the fact that this is TIGER COUNTRY. Big slopes, steep runs, and common to get avalanches on buried crusts in March.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Problems

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.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.