Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Apr 12 – 13, 2014Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Spring conditions are here. Excellent skiing on high North aspects and supportive travel early in the day! The hazard will rise as the temperatures heat up during the day. Start your trips early and be off of big slopes before they heat up. CJ

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    With tomorrows clear skies and sunshine we will likely see loose wet slides on steep S aspects in the afternoon.  Cornice failures are also possible as things warm up. Plan to finish your trips by early afternoon.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–3
    Triggering this layer is most likely during warm periods and from thin rocky locations. Large triggers such as cornices may also trigger this deep weakness. This hazard will gradually increase as temperatures warm up over the next few days.

Weather Forecast

Sunday looks like a cool clear day with overnight lows around -12`C, light W winds and freezing levels near 1700m.  Monday will see increasing cloud, Light SW winds, alpine temperatures up to -2 and freezing levels near 2000m. Tuesday will see some snow flurries, freezing levels near 2000m and light W winds.

Snowpack Summary

10-12cm of new snow over a supportive crust on all aspects and elevations today. Some moist snow at lower elevations. Snow pack becoming isothermal below 1700m later in the day. Small wind slabs present near ridge crests in the alpine from strong NW winds.

Avalanche Summary

Some loose sluffing out of steep terrain today up to size 1. In the past several days we saw numerous slab avalanches on all aspects and elevations up to size 3 failing on basal facets when the temperatures got really warm. Loose wet avalanches and cornice failures were also observed.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Tuesday

Regions covered