Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 10 – 11, 2019Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

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

Watch for small wind slabs at ridge top and take care to manage your sluff in steeper terrain.  Avalanche control will occur on Mt. Bourgeau and Mt. Whymper  March 10.  No activities on these peaks tomorrow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    New small slabs can be found in wind loaded areas up to 40cm thick. These slabs will be found sitting on the weak, faceted snow that was previously on the surface .

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Cold weather created weak, faceted surface snow. In steep terrain, these facets are easily triggered and can gain enough mass to affect skiers and climbers.

Weather Forecast

A nice day Sunday with valley bottom lows of -12 and highs of 0C.  3000m temperatures will be slowly rising from -16 to -8C.  Expect light N/NW winds which will start to increase late in the afternoon.  Winds will really increase on Monday (100kmh+) at upper elevations and some snow will arrive for Tuesday although amounts are uncertain. 

Snowpack Summary

A trace to 20 cm of new snow came with moderate to strong SW-W winds. This sits over weak surface facets, previous wind effect and crusts isolated to steep solar slopes. Weaker layers like the Jan.17 surface hoar/facets linger down 40-60 cm in some locations, but are currently lying dormant. A weak basal snowpack exists in thin snowpack areas.

Avalanche Summary

Some small wind slabs and loose dry avalanches have occurred over the last 24 hours in the alpine but activity is tapering. A ski group triggered a sluff in the Goats Eye feature along the Sunshine ski area road.  It was a sz. 1.5 and no one was injured.

Confidence

Regions covered