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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 6th, 2023–Apr 7th, 2023

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

Regions

Banff, East Side 93N, LLSA.

There has been continued avalanche activity on the deep persistent layers in this region, a problem which is not going away anytime soon.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Strong winds in the last 48h have created wind slabs in lee features, with ski hills reporting natural activity to size 1-1.5 out of extreme terrain. There have also been multiple remote triggered avalanches, running on the basal facets in recent days, up to size 3.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slab development and reactivity has been reported by both Sunshine and Lake Louise with the increase in the winds out of the SW. Up to 15cm of storm snow buries sun crusts to ridgetop and temperature crusts below 1500m. The snowpack in this area is much thinner and weaker overall than the rest of the regions. 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

On Friday, cloudy skies and flurries are expected throughout the region. Snowfall amounts are not forecast to be more than 5 cm as precipitation rates will likely increase through the afternoon. Winds at ridgetop are expected to be in the strong range, blowing out of the south west. Freezing levels will reach 2000m-2300m and the alpine high is forecast to hit +2C.

Saturday should see the front move through and flurries will tapering through the day. Temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler, as the forecast alpine high is 0C.

For a detailed weather 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.