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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 10th, 2021–Apr 11th, 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.

Its April, but the snowpack does not feel like spring up high. There is still good skiing but watch for wind slab development, sluffing, and exposure to cornices in the alpine.

Weather Forecast

A cooler day Sunday and freezing levels are only expected to rise to around 1500m.  North winds will diminish and Sunday will have generally light winds at al elevations. No snow is expected and there will be a mix of sun and cloud. Easterly winds will develop Monday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40cm of recent snow buries a crust up to 1800m on all aspects (higher on steep solar aspects). New wind slab growth in the alpine down into tree line. Several persistent layers exist in the mid to lower snowpack and have been responsible for several large avalanches. These layers will remain a concern for some time due to their uncertainty.

Avalanche Summary

Today, loose dry avalanches to 2 on all aspects were observed. There were also some cornice failures which pulled a few wind slabs up to size 2.5. All of these observations were in alpine terrain.

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 Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.