Slabs over the January 30 weak layer are showing signs of becoming reactive to skier traffic.
The cold temps continue. Make sure you have the gear to stay warm if any unexpected delays occur.
Eastern areas of the region have a weaker than normal snowpack this year. Avalanche terrain in these areas should be approached with caution.
S through W winds have created a thin layer of hard windslab in many alpine lee features and moved snow in open areas at treeline. This wind transport has contributed to slab development with potential failure plans in the storm snow and at the January 30 facets, sun crusts, and isolated surface hoar.
Lake Louise reported triggering a couple of sz 1.5 slabs on the Jan 30 crust on E and SE aspects at TL and above Friday while Sunshine saw a large cornice failure to the south of their tenure that scrubbed out a deep slab on a NE aspect in the alpine.
In the Little Yoho subregion skiers triggered a sz 1.5 slab on the Jan. 30 layer at treeline below Wapta Peak
There was a remotely triggered avalanche just southwest of our region that likely failed on the Jan. 30th layer on Wednesday.
Saturday evening W-SW winds are expected to diminish to light and shift NW as the Arctic ridge re-asserts itself further over the next few days. Overnight lows at treeline near -26C.
Cloud is still in the forecast for Sunday and the winds are to increase back to the moderate range in the alpine as temperatures approach -15C for the high at treeline.
Clearing trend for Monday as the temperatures tick lower.
