Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 11th, 2016 4:00PM

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

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Watch for sudden intense solar heating. Also, the windslabs will continue to build and are likely to remain touchy to human triggering for a while. Avoid large open avalanche slopes and thin or unsupported slopes until the snowpack settles.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Warmer temps on Saturday with a little sun and snow. Then cooler again with ongoing snow, wind and sun.

Snowpack Summary

Two smaller, recent storms have left 20-50 cm of snow poorly bonded to the old crusts below. Recent moderate S-SW winds with strong gusts have formed slabs in lee areas. A firm upper snow pack sits over a weak mid-pack of facets & depth hoar. In thin snowpack areas tests results are typically collapses near the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous avalanches to size 2.5 occurred Thursday morning after the passing of the storm. Most appeared to be windslabs in lee or cross-loaded areas.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The mid-pack facets remain weak, especially in thin or rocky areas. Avoid steep or unsupported terrain, and watch for signs of instability such as whumphing and cracking.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.Caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Recent W winds and new snow have created soft slabs in lee areas and cross-loaded features.

If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 12th, 2016 4:00PM