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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Apr 5th, 2014–Apr 6th, 2014
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be considerable

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Steady winds have decreased the ski quality. Stick to mellow lines in thin snowpack areas to avoid triggering any basal weakness. If the sun pops out Sunday, watch for increasing hazard on solar aspects.SH

Weather Forecast

Sunday expect a weak freeze and a mix of sun and cloud and minimal new snow. Winds will be Westerly and light gusting up to 75km/h in the alpine. A forecasted waming trend Monday, Tuesday with freezing levels up to 2600m. This will be accompanied by strong W winds,10-15 cm of snow in the Louise group, and maybe even some rain W of the divide.

Snowpack Summary

New wind slabs 15-25 cm thick in the immediate lees. Western areas such as Emerald and Field have a deep and stable snowpack. Contrast this with the Lake Louise, Hwy 93 N, & Sunshine areas, where there is a weaker snowpack with sudden collapse very easy compression results on the basal depth hoar. A crust exists on all but N aspects.

Avalanche Summary

A recent sz. 2 wind slab on a N aspect was observed in Yoho from the last 24 hours out of steeper terrain. No other avalanches were reported.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Sunday

Avalanche Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Thin areas mainly E of the divide are still susceptible to triggering basal layers causing larger avalanches. Big triggers such as cornice failures could be enough load to trigger an avalanche on the ground level
Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Isolated wind slabs in the lees of alpine ridge crests will still be susceptible to human triggering in the short term.
Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2