Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 12 – 13, 2015Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

In eastern areas of the forecast region (Banff area), the danger rating will be higher as repeated days of warm weather with little overnight recovery is taking its toll on the snowpack. Temperatures have been cooler along the continental divide.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    5 - 10 cm's of new snow has been blown by strong west winds into small windslabs in the alpine. In some areas this covers isolated areas of older windslab that has been reactive to human triggering over the past week.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    The warm temperatures will create wet sluffs and rockfall on south facing slopes and gullies at and below treeline. Ice climbers should avoid this terrain, and instead search for north facing climbs where the cold temperatures will keep things solid.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    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 waken up with the warm temperatures (especially east of the divide where temperatures have been warmer)

Weather Forecast

Friday should be partly cloudy with a weak freeze in the AM but some clouds to keep the solar radiation at bay. Forecasts are calling for a short but intense storm starting Saturday around noon which should deposit 20 - 30 cm's of new snow above 2000m with rain below. Alpine winds will be moderate to strong from the W/ SW throughout the period.

Snowpack Summary

There is a wide range of conditions from east to west at this time. Eastern areas (Banff) are subject to the warm temperatures which are effecting the snowpack on S and W aspects. Further west the temperatures have remained cool enough that treeline and alpine snowpacks have remained solid and new snow has made fresh windslabs in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported today.

Confidence

Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday

Regions covered