Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 24 – 25, 2015Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Good skiing on North aspects.  10-20 cm blanket the Wapta with little wind effect on regular travel routes.  Winds pick up Thursday and freezing levels rise causing the hazard to rise as we approach the weekend.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Wind slabs up to 35cm can be found in the immediate lee features. Although there has been some improvement, they are sensitive to human triggering on features such as ridge crests, cross loaded gullies, and steep terrain features.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3
    The lower half of the snowpack is weak due to the presence of basal facets and depth hoar. This layer has been dormant lately but may become more sensitive with the recent new snow load, especially in thin areas.

Weather Forecast

Expect clear skies and a good freeze tonight.  Very light flurries move in to the region Wednesday and winds will remain generally light from the West with some gusts.  Snow picks up for Thursday, along with the wind, and rising freezing levels to 2600 m by Friday.  By Sunday, accumulations may be up 10 cm.

Snowpack Summary

Convective cells have dropped 10-20 cm's with light winds over the last few days. Wind slabs exist in isolated immediate lee features and open areas in the alpine and sit on a variety of hard surfaces. The base of the snowpack is made up of facets and depth hoar and remains weak. Below tree line, snow is isothermal in the afternoons.

Avalanche Summary

Local ski hills reported a few small explosive controlled windslabs in steep unsupported terrain over the past 2 days. Temperatures remained cool today - no pinwheeling observed and crusts remained intact down to 1900 m.

Confidence

Regions covered