Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 23 – 24, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

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

Watch gullied terrain and terrain traps if it gets sunny. Watch for surface slabs and near surface slabs in large openings and areas of high consequence.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Wind slabs and wind effect can be found in the alpine. Wind slabs are unlikely to release naturally but can be triggered by skiers and climbers.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1–2.5
    Concern still exists for last weeks storm snow (20-30 cm) where it overlies a crust on solar aspects. Some recent avalanches have been observed on this interface.

Weather Forecast

Light flurries and a mixed bag of sun and cloud into Sunday. Large inputs of solar radiation should increase the possibility of lose avalanches in the afternoon.

Snowpack Summary

Variable surface conditions with dry snow present on polar aspects above 1600 m and temp crusts to ridgetops on solar aspects. Small wind slabs found in the high alpine. Concern still exists for last weeks storm snow where it sits on a buried suncrust (down 20-30 cm) on south and west aspects. Shallow snowpack areas are also still a concern.

Avalanche Summary

A skier accidental involvement was reported in the Lake Louise area yesterday. This points to ongoing problems with the upper portion of the snowpack.

Confidence

Regions covered