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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 22nd, 2021–Apr 23rd, 2021

Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

With additional snow expected Friday and minimal solar input forecast, we expect an "all freeze, no melt" scenario for the snowpack.

Click the "More Spring Conditions details" link found below for supporting information on this scenario and others.

Weather Forecast

Freezing levels appear to have reached around 2000m Thursday with thin cloud cover in the afternoon. Friday a westerly flow will bring an additional 5 to 15 cm and winds that may touch into the moderate range. Freezing level should be kept under 1800m again with cloud cover forecast through the day.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20 cm of new snow has buried crusts on all aspects to 2200m and to ridgecrests on solar slopes. There are several persistent layers in the mid to lower snowpack that are likely only a concern on alpine north facing terrain where no crusts are found in the snowpack while temperatures remain cool.

Avalanche Summary

During the warmup, persistent layers in the mid and lower snowpack were re-activated in a few instances with cornices and explosives, producing large avalanches, but activity has tapered since.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.