Avalanche forecast

Banff Yoho Kootenay

Mar 17 – 18, 2022
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Keeping danger rating at moderate below treeline due to recent avalanche activity noted in Kootenay Park today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Winds have been variable throughout the region, but expect fresh wind slabs in the alpine and some exposed tree-line locations.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Buried crust/facet layers exist in the upper snowpack on solar aspects and all aspects below 1700m. Recent tests show moderate sudden planar results on these crusts. Exercise caution in areas where these crusts exist.

Weather Forecast

A weak ridge of high pressure builds for Friday. Lingering scattered flurries with only trace accumulations forecasted along the Continental Divide. Ridgetop winds SW in the 30-40 range. Freezing levels to reach 15-1700 m on Friday with good overnight recovery.

Snowpack Summary

20-50 cm of recent snow forming fresh wind slabs in alpine and some treeline terrain. On solar aspects a variety of buried sun-crusts exist down 30-60 cm that are producing moderate results with stability tests. In addition there is a buried temperature crust at lower elevations (below 1800 m that exists on all aspects) especially in Kootenay Park.

Avalanche Summary

Explosive control on Whymper and Simpson areas of Kootenay Park on Thursday produced small wind-slabs (up to size 2.5). Of note in Simpson area is when debris hit lower elevations (1800-1600 m) it triggered new slabs down 50 cm on a suspected temperature crust. Propagations on this layer were significant (up to 100 m).

Confidence

Regions covered