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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 6th, 2022–Apr 7th, 2022

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

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Warm weather is heading our way starting Thursday so start early. The main warmup happens in the afternoon accompanied by strong winds. We expect the hazard to rise significantly on Friday with snow/rain and freezing levels forecast to reach 2800 m.

Weather Forecast

The brief ridge of high pressure will move out of the area on Thursday as another Pacific system heads our way. Expect Thursday to start cold, then warm through the day and the clouds roll in for the afternoon with strong winds. No freeze overnight and Friday will see high freezing levels and some rain/snow.

Snowpack Summary

15-20 cm of soft, dry snow sits on a firm crust on N aspects down to at least 2000 m. On solar and windward aspects, soft moist snow exists below ridge crests but has been away near ridges, which are barren. Solar aspects will be crust on Thursday morning. Windslabs exist in immediate leeward areas of ridges, but dissipate once down slope.

Avalanche Summary

FIeld trip near Sunshine Village observed a size 1.5 windslab/cornice on a SE aspect and a fresh cornice failure on the N side. Otherwise no new avalanches reported or observed.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.