Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 9th, 2023–Apr 10th, 2023

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay, Banff, East Side 93N, Kootenay, Lake Louise, LLSA, Sunshine, West Side 93N, Field.

A significant storm will start Sunday night and last until Tuesday with rain below 2000m, up to 40cm of snow up high and strong winds. It will be a good time to avoid exposure to avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Sunshine had minimal results (size 1-1.5) windslabs with explosives and a size 1 ski cut deep persistent slab. No other avalanches observed or reported.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 5cm of new snow sits over sun crusts on solar aspects. Isolated small wind slabs in the alpine.

A weak, isothermal snowpack is developing BTL with minimal overnight recovery.

Several buried crusts can be found in the top 40cm on solar aspects.

The January sun crust and facet interface is down 40 to 80cm.

The November depth hoar at the base of the snowpack remains very weak.

Weather Summary

Sunday night: 10-15cm of snow above 2000m and rain below with Strong SW winds in the alp.

Monday: 10-15cm of snow above 2000-2300m with rain below and strong sw winds which will diminish through the day.

Tuesday: 5-10cm of snow with cooler temperatures and freezing levels 1500-1800m.

For a detailed forecast click here.

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.