Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 6th, 2013 4:00PM

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

chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

The storm snow continues to settle and bond to the underlying surfaces, but it remains touchy in steep convexities and in thin, alpine features.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Bit of a split in weather within the region, with the northern portions having clear to scattered clouds and cool morning temp's. The southern portions may see scattered flurries with up to 5cm. No significant winds for the next couple of days.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 60 cm of storm snow since Friday has settled to 30-40 cm. Cool temp's have solidified the upper snowpack and the bond to the storm snow interface. The storm slabs remain touchy to trigger in the alpine, especially in thin, faceted areas. A team in Yoho observed a 50cm slab on facets that failed very easily in tests in the moraines.

Avalanche Summary

A field team up the Yoho Valley towards Takakkaw Falls observed several sz 3-3.5 avalanches that had run near the end of the last storm (72+hrs). No new avalanches observed in the last 24 hours, but whumphing/settling observed in wind-affected alpine features.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

The natural cycle is over and cooler temperatures have tightened up the upper pack, however we still expect to see touchy storm slab conditions over the next few days, especially in thin, faceted areas in the alpine.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 7th, 2013 4:00PM