The fresh snow and wind on Saturday and Sunday will increase the avalanche hazard in steep, loaded gullies and lee areas of the alpine and high treeline. Pay attention to local snow amounts and watch out for deeper accumulations and small wind slabs in these areas.
There is enough snow in wind-loaded alpine and high treeline features to create avalanches, and human triggering is possible. While we expect these slides to be limited in size, getting avalanched in a shallow snowpack can easily result in an injury, so use caution in steep terrain.
Sluffing in steep gullies with the new snow and wind, and reports of small wind slabs being triggered in steep gullies by skiers.
Saturday saw 10-25 cm of new snow at treeline with more in the alpine and along the divide. Small wind slabs are present in steep, loaded gullies and lee areas of the alpine and high treeline. Most treeline and below treeline areas are still below the threshold for avalanches, but we expect north-facing alpine terrain to have a snowpack of 40-80 cms.
15-25 cm of new snow on Saturday at treeline with more in the alpine, and another 5-10 cm forecast for Saturday night. Snow should start tapering off on Sunday morning. Temperatures will drop with freezing levels near the valley bottom overnight and into Sunday. Alpine winds will be from the west in the moderate to strong range.
MondayBanff National Park forecast
Yoho National Park forecast
Kootenay National Park forecast
Western Canada weather maps
