Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 25 – 26, 2018Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Conditions will change very little Monday. Tuesday expect precipitation and wind. Danger ratings Tuesday and beyond will depend on actual snowfall amounts and wind transport. Stay tuned.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Wind slabs and wind effect can be found in the alpine. Wind slabs are unlikely to release naturally but can be triggered by skiers and climbers, especially near ridge crest.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2.5
    Concern still exists for last weeks storm snow (20-30 cm) where it overlies a crust on solar aspects. Some recent avalanches have been observed on this interface.

Weather Forecast

Cooler temps will remain on Monday. Expect to see cloud cover and very light accumulations of snow (trace). Up to 20cm is expected to arrive on Tuesday. Wind will also be increasing into the moderate range from the SW.

Snowpack Summary

Cooler temps this weekend will keep lower elevation melt free crusts intact. On solar aspects this crust is present to ridgetop. Small wind slabs found in the high alpine. Concern still exists for last weeks storm snow where it sits on a buried suncrust (down 20-30 cm) on south and west aspects. Shallow snowpack areas are also still a concern.

Avalanche Summary

An ice triggered avalanche on the highway path on Mt. Stephen buried the highway Saturday night. This large piece of ice did not trigger a slab, the ice mass and snow that it entrained created the volume of debris.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Tuesday

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