Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Feb 17 – 18, 2015Parks Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Natural activity is tapering and the new snow and bluebird weather makes everything looks so tempting. Do the smart thing and resist temptation to step into bigger terrain as conditions are still prime for human triggering!

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Winds from both the SW and NW have formed fresh wind slabs in open areas above tree line. These are settling out but can still be triggered and may step down to the basal weak layers.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3
    The base of the snowpack remains weak due to the presence of basal depth hoar and facets. Avalanches have been occurring on this layer daily: either failing on this layer, or stepping down to this layer with wide propagations.

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure is sitting above us. We can expect pleasant spring weather on Tues and Wed with light alpine winds, cool overnight temperatures (-10/ -15) and minimal solar effect on the snowpack despite the sunny skies. Winds should pick up to moderate from the West on Wed PM and we may see some light snow (5-10cm's) overnight Wed.

Snowpack Summary

Some wind effect in open areas above tree line. Temperature crust present below 1800m. 60-70cm of well settled snow from recent storms and warm temperatures sits over weak facets and depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack. A snow pit done at 2350m near Cirque Peak on Saturday demonstrates the snowpack layering common in the forecast region.

Avalanche Summary

Another skier accidental: size 2 in the Sunshine Backcountry on Sunday. One new avalanche reported on Monday: a size 2.5 naturally triggered slab on a SW aspect at 2500m in the Mt. Assiniboine area. Limited observations today, however, we are just coming out of a natural avalanche cycle on Saturday, and conditions are still touchy.

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable

Regions covered