Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks
Really warm days ahead. The typical spring statement is still the best; start and end early!
Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up.
- Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
A few deeper avalanches have occurred in the last few days. Some stepped down to the March 15 crust. On shaded aspects these were likely sliding on facets formed at the same interface. This will wake up again with intense heating or large triggers.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger persistent slabs.
Avalanche Problem 3: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Cornice failures are occurring on a regular basis now with warm temperatures and intense solar inputs. These large triggers have caused failures on the persistent weak layers deeper in the snow pack over the last couple days.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize exposure to overhead hazard from cornices.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
Avalanche Summary
Ongoing wet snow avalanches typical for this time of year are occurring as the day warms up. These vary by aspect and elevation but can travel far as they entrain isothermal snow.
Snowpack Summary
Crust or moist snow on all solar aspects depending on temperatures. Buried temperature crusts to 2000m on all aspects and to ridge top on solar slopes, including the Mar 15 crust down 40-70 cm in the alpine. Moist snow at lower elevations, with the entire snowpack becoming moist below treeline in the afternoons.
Weather Forecast
Continued warm temperatures with freezing levels up to 3500m for both Friday and Saturday. Temperatures have been slightly inverted with better freezes at valley bottom as long as skies are clear overnight, but temperatures will stay above freezing in the alpine. Mainly light winds through the next 2 days with potential for precipitation on Sunday.
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Loose wet avalanches are expected to be common over the next couple of days as it warms up. Starting and ending very early are the best defense. Even small wet slides are very powerful and destructive.