Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 3 – 4, 2013Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Additional load with a cold NE storm Sunday  will keep the danger HIGH. Cold temperatures after the storm should tighten up the lower elevation instabilities.  Avalanche Control on Sunshine Road and Mt. Whymper tomorrow! JBW

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely - Very Likely
    Size
    2–4
    Another 20 cm overnight with strong winds will add to the avalanche danger. Avoid travel in avalanche terrain until the snow stabilizes with the cold front passage.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Below treeline and down into the valley bottoms the snow is moist and unstable. Loos wet avalanches and moist slabs are possible on all steep terrain

Weather Forecast

A cold upper trough will cut off the strong southwesterly sub tropical flow creating a winter north east storm overnight and into Sunday. The skies will clear and the temperatures drop in the wake of the  cold front.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 50 cm of storm snow has created a new snow slab which is failing easily on the old snow surfaces in the alpine. At treeline and below, rising freezing levels and rain have created a moist to wet slab condition.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanches are running on all aspects and elevations up to size 3.5. Storm slabs from the upper start zones are pulling out additional moist slabs and wet avalanches in the lower tracks. Steep slopes in the valley bottoms are failing as wet loose avalanches.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Regions covered