Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Looks like a great weekend of weather ahead. Bumped the treeline hazard up due to clear skies forecasted for Sunday & Monday may make any residual windslabs, if found, slightly more reactive in heat of the day.
Weather Forecast
A weak system passing tomorrow will bring cloud for Saturday, clearing in the afternoon. Sunday should be clear and a northerly wind will help keep tempertures cool with alpine highs of -7. The solar component is a consideration for climbers where it may cause localized sluffing off cliffs into gully features on steep solar aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Another light dusting of low density new snow overtop of wind slab (in alpine lee terrain) or previously facetted surfaces. East of the divide the mid-pack at treeline and below is well facetted but supportive to skiers. The early January surface hoar can still be found down 35-45 cm in some locations, but is proving unreactive to skier triggering.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches reported or observed
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable
Problems
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.