Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 24 – 25, 2018Parks Canada
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Archived · expired 9 years ago

Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
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
    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 especially near ridge crest.

  • 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.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanches activity has tapered today, no reports of back country observations. Local ski patrol triggered surface slabs to size 2.5 with large explosive out of extreme terrain.

Confidence

Snowpack Summary

Cooler temps this weekend will keep lower elevation melt free crusts intact. On solar aspects this crust is present to ridgetop. 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.

Weather Forecast

Cooler temperatures will continue through Sunday, sky's will remain cloudy with a few breaks mid day. Snow is expected in the western part of the forecast region starting late Monday. 

Regions covered