Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Apr 4th, 2016 4:13PM

The alpine rating is below threshold, the treeline rating is below threshold, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.

Conrad Janzen, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

We have switched to spring conditions! A little bit of new snow should improve the skiing up high. Start early to take advantage of the cooler temperatures, better travel and lower avalanche hazard and plan to be off steep slopes before they heat up.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A slight cooling trend with a few flurries and moderate winds from the West are forecasted for Tuesday and Wednesday. Another ridge begins to build on Wednesday and clearing skies with increasing freezing levels are forecasted towards the end of the week.

Snowpack Summary

A few cm's of new snow at higher elevations. Expect surface crusts on all aspects at lower elevations with moist snow underneath. Crusts will rapidly break down with daytime heating or sun exposure. In many places the snowpack is sitting on a deep persistent layer of facets that has been avalanching with solar heating over the previous week.

Avalanche Summary

Slightly cooler temperature and light cloud cover have helped to reduce natural avalanches. No avalanches observed or reported on Monday. Lots of natural activity up to size 3.5 observed in the past week with intense solar heating.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep facet layers remain weak especially in thin snowpack areas. This layer will be harder to trigger as temperatures cool and but be cautious in large steep terrain especially when temperatures increase during the later part of the day.

Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Loose Wet

When the sun comes out and the surface crusts break down, the snow pack will rapidly deteriorate. Expect loose wet avalanches to run in gullies, from cliffs and on steep slopes facing the sun during the later parts of the day.

If triggered the loose wet sluffs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Apr 5th, 2016 4:00PM