Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 2 – 3, 2013Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Developing slabs overlie existing hard windslabs.  Visibility is poor, but we expect naturals to be occurring involving these layers.  In thinner snowpack areas, avalanches may scrub to ground, incorporate the weak snow and run further than expected.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3
      With the added load, cornices may fail and trigger slopes below.  Be mindful of over head corniced features.

Weather Forecast

For tonight and Saturday, expect rain to continue to 1800 m and snow above that.  Winds to remain moderate to strong. Late Saturday, the winds will shift to a northerly direction in advance of a cold front that could deliver another 10-15 cm to upslope regions.  Temperatures will drop through Sunday and the precipitation will end.

Snowpack Summary

Some rain below 1800m Fri afternoon, and 10-20cm snow over last 24 hrs. building soft slabs in alpine areas. Rapid settlement due to warmer temps. New snow sits over previous wind slabs to 25cm thick with stubborn hard slabs below. W of the divide the mid-pack is generally well settled. E of divide the mid-pack is faceted and weak.

Avalanche Summary

A skier accidental with no burial size 2.5 occurred on a steep cross loaded feature in the National Geographics, near Lake Louise Thursday.  The hard slab was 40-60 cm thick and ran the full length of the path.  Sunshine and Lake Louise ski hills reporting only sz.1 ski cuts and naturals out of steep ridgetop terrain, reloading through the day. 

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Regions covered