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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 3rd, 2021–Apr 4th, 2021

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

New snow and cooler temperatures should refresh the skiing on Sunday. The amounts of new snow and wind loading will dictate the hazard, so pay attention to this as you choose your terrain. 

Weather Forecast

A cold front arriving on Saturday night will bring 5-15 cm of new snow with strong West winds. Temperatures will cool as the cold front passes. Sunday will see freezing levels around 1600 m with diminishing winds switching from W to NW through the day. A few flurries are expected early in the day followed by a mostly cloudy day. 

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10 cm of new snow in some areas with previous wind effect at treeline and above. Crusts exist up to ~2000 m on all aspects and higher on solar aspects. The March 19 interface is down 20-50cm and consists of crust on solar aspects and facets on north aspects. Basal facets exist in shallow areas east of the divide.

Avalanche Summary

No new slab avalanches observed on Saturday. Some new snow sluffing in areas that saw more snow overnight. Several cornice failures have occurred over the last week up to size 2.5, some of which have pulled small slabs from the slopes below.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.