Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 31st, 2015 4:24PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

ian jackson, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

If the weather forecast is accurate, we should be entering a period of good ski and avalanche conditions. Watch out for windslabs and large freshly formed cornices as we have responded to two very close calls with cornices in the last week!

Summary

Weather Forecast

We are returning back to seasonal temperatures for the foreseeable future with good overnight lows and mild daytime highs. Winds should die down by midday Wednesday as we come under the influence of a ridge of high pressure. Skis should be mostly clear with some lingering clouds for the forecast period.

Snowpack Summary

Below 2000 m the snow pack is rain saturated. In the alpine there is 15-20 cm of recent storm snowforming wind slabs on east through north aspects. The midpack above treeline is well settled and overlies a weak facetted base. These basal facets have not been reactive recently, but should still be considered when making terrain choices.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported today, however Lake Louise and Sunshine reported significant cornice growth and several wind slabs up to size 1.5 being easily triggered on solar aspects yesterday. Wind slabs were far more stubborn to trigger on north aspects due warm temps and rapid settlement.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

There is generally 10-20 cm available for transport and moderate SW winds have created wind slabs in exposed locations. These will be most reactive where they overlie a sun crust (solar aspects).

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

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 1st, 2015 4:00PM