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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2023–Apr 8th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

Banff, East Side 93N, LLSA.

Our deep persistent slab is still a concern, continue to avoid thick to thin areas while recreating.

Be mindful of the daytime warming of the snowpack as temperatures are not forecast to cool off significantly Friday night.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new natural activity. Explosive work at ski hills producing size 1-1.5 wind slabs out of extreme terrain.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack in this area is much thinner and weaker overall than the rest of the regions. Warm temperatures have likely formed a new crust on all aspects up to tree line. Isolated wind slabs sit on sun crusts to ridge top and temperature crusts below 1500m. 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

Saturday: Scattered flurries will bring light snowfall to the region.

Ridgetop winds will be from the southwest near 40-50 km/h and freezing levels forecast to hit 2000m. The alpine high should range between 0C and +5C.

Sunday: Winds and temperatures will rise significantly through the day. Freezing levels are forecast to hit between 2300m-2700m and winds will push up into the strong/extreme range out of the south west. The snow/rain will start Sunday evening.

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.