Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks
Be watchful for windslabs at high elevations due to light wind transport and warmer temps on Thursday.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
We continue to track three mid-snowpack weak layers from earlier this winter. They are bonding well and test results no longer show failures here. This problem continues to be in the back of our minds, but our confidence in the snowpack has improved.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Ride large slopes one at a time and spot your partners from safe locations.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches observed or reported.
Snowpack Summary
5 cm of loose snow on the surface at treeline with wind slabs forming in open areas at higher elevations. Three mid-pack weak layers of surface hoar and/or facets appear well bonded, but are worth keeping in mind on bigger slopes. Snowpack tests are showing no results on those layers.
Weather Forecast
It is expected to warm up to near zero in the valley tomorrow by midday tomorrow. Ridge elevation should remain in the -10 range. Wind will be from the due South with light to moderate velocity. Very light precip with minimal accumulations on Thursday, and up to 5 cm on Friday.
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Wind slabs exist in lee areas in the alpine. While they may not be very thick or particularly touchy, they certainly have the potential to carry you into an undesirable location (cliffs/terrain traps) if triggered in steep terrain.