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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 17th, 2020–Mar 18th, 2020

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

We are asking all backcountry travelers to keep their risk to an absolute minimum. Now is not the time for an accident, which will stress the capacity of our teams & the medical system. Enjoy the fresh air but restrain your activities.

Weather Forecast

The weather looks stable for the next few days with Wednesday's temperatures ranging from -4 to -12. Some cloud cover and light flurries accompanied by light to moderate winds. Even the 10 day forecast looks like very little new snow thankfully (we don't say that often).

Snowpack Summary

Sun crust on steep solar aspects. 15-20 cm of soft snow over a firm mid pack has been redistributed by moderate winds from various directions (SW, N and E). Wind slabs are present in steep lee areas, with wind effect on many open slopes above treeline. In shallow snowpack areas the weak basal facets remain a concern.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported on Tuesday, but then our observations are very limited to road patrols only.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

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.