Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Be suspect of small, new wind slabs at upper elevations from previous strong winds. The loose facets will continue to be a problem in confined features and terrain traps if initiated. SH
Weather Forecast
Temperatures will cool slightly for the next few days with little in the way of snow and NW winds staying mainly light. The next system with snow looks to be Saturday .
Snowpack Summary
In general there is 10-15 cm over the Jan 6 combination of surface hoar, facets and sun crust depending on aspect and elevation. Moderate to strong winds have formed small wind slabs in the alpine and can be found on most aspects. The snowpack is facetting but still supportive in this region where over a meter.
Avalanche Summary
2 separate avalanches were reported yesterday and today in the Healy paths near ridge crests. These were both 1-1.5 on South aspects over sun crust. This is similar to other reports over the last few days. As well, facet avalanches in extreme terrain are running far when initiated at all elevations.
Problems
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
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.