Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 3rd, 2016 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Deep Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.

snow safety, Parks Canada

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

It will be a few days yet before we can center-punch the bigger lines. Watch for shallow areas, lee slopes, and rotten snow. Stay to the margins for a few more days.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Light snow, sunny periods, and moderately cool temperatures for the next few days.

Snowpack Summary

10-25cm of recent new snow combined with some wind is creating lee slabs. On all aspects at treeline and in the alpine, an underlying layer of midpack and basal facets are still a concern.

Avalanche Summary

A skier remote, size 1 avalanche of new snow on suncrust was noted in Kootenay today.

Confidence

Problems

Deep Persistent Slabs

The snowpack can still be weak in the BYK region, except in areas of deeper (thus stronger) snow. Avoid steep unsupported terrain, and watch for signs of instability such as whumphing and cracking. The snowpack still slowly improving.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Wind Slabs

Strong winds on Thursday will redistribute the recent snow and create touchy windslabs in leeward ares. Use common sense to avoid these places, and pay attention to the snow surface conditions while touring - you can usually detect windslabs easily.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 4th, 2016 4:00PM