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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 23rd, 2020–Mar 24th, 2020

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.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Banff Yoho Kootenay.

Less snow fell than expected on Monday, however higher elevations and areas to the West saw enough new snow and wind to create small fresh wind slabs that could be a concern in steep alpine terrain.

Weather Forecast

Continued flurries through Tuesday with an additional 2-5 cm's depending on the elevation. Winds will remain in the light to moderate range out of the W with a slight increase in wind speed Tuesday night. Freezing levels should stay at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

2-10 cm of snow on Monday with the higher amounts in the west. Moderate SW winds in the alpine forming new wind slabs. Previous widespread wind effect in the alpine and treeline. Sun crusts and buried sun crusts on solar aspects. In thin snow pack areas a dense mid-pack sits over a weak faceted base, while deep snowpack areas have a solid base.

Avalanche Summary

Several solar triggered small loose avalanches observed in the past several days and some skier triggered surface sluffing in steep terrain up to size 1.5. No new avalanches observed or reported on Monday but observations are limited.

Confidence

Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.