Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 9th, 2019 4:00PM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

aaron beardmore, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Conditions vary greatly between elevation and aspect. Be inquisitive on alpine terrain features and look for local wind-slabs and the presence of persistent slabs.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A few cm's of snow is expected overnight. On Wednesday expect cloudy skies and continued light precipitation. Temperatures will not reach higher than 3 or 4 degrees in the valley on Wednesday. Steady moderate wind from the NW will blow until about midday Wednesday. Accumulations of up to 10cm is expected by Friday.

Snowpack Summary

15cm of snow from the weekend has accumulated above treeline. Crust are present on most aspects and elevations excluding high North. On high North, 30cm of unconsolidated snow can be found. Below this, a stiff slab overlying weak facets remains a concern in some places. If any notable rain occurs, expect a loose wet problem to develop.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported today.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

While wind-slabs from the weekend appear to be settling out, fresh snow and steady moderate wind from the NW is expected overnight on Tuesday. Because of this, forecasters anticipate new wind-slab development on Weds.

Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Persistent Slabs

A hard slab sitting over weak facets up to 60cm down remains a concern where found: mainly on N aspects in the alpine. Recent snowpack tests have produced hard results on the March 7th layer. Little recent avalanche activity noted on this layer.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 10th, 2019 4:00PM