Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 6 – 7, 2019Parks Canada
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Another beautiful day forecasted for Wednesday!  Watch for an increase in loose dry avalanche activity on solar aspects with daytime warming.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2
    Cold weather has created weak, faceted surface snow. In steep terrain, these facets are easily triggered and can gain enough mass to affect skiers and climbers. Solar triggering of this problem will be come more of a concern over the next few days.

Weather Forecast

Another beautiful day for Wednesday with clear skies and day time highs of -5.  Cloud will roll in Wednesday evening and very light flurries are forecasted for Thursday and Friday.  We may see 5-10 cm by Friday evening in some locations.

Snowpack Summary

Prolonged cold temperatures have weakened the upper snowpack. Wind effect is common in the alpine and several recent crusts can be found on steep solar slopes. Despite the weakening slab above it, Jan 17 surface hoar lingers down 40-60 cm in isolated locations and produces hard, resistent shears. A weak basal snowpack exists in thin snowpack areas.

Avalanche Summary

The loose dry problem remains the main concern. We continue to see natural and human triggered avalanches out of most steep terrain. These avalanches are running far and entraining a substantial amount of snow.  For example, Mt St. Piran had a size 2 loose dry avalanche which initiated in the rocks and ran 500 m, SE aspect, 2550 m on Monday.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Regions covered