Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Recent storm snow has refreshed the ski quality, but made for some touchy conditions in areas where it overlies suncrusts from February's warm temperatures.
Weather Forecast
A similar weather pattern for the next few days - on Wednesday expect overcast skies with light snow through the day, probably not accumulating more than 3-5cm. Temperatures will remain cool from -2 to -10 and relatively light winds. A gradual clearing trend into Friday. Excellent weather for quality tree skiing!
Snowpack Summary
40 - 60cm of recent, dry storm snow overlies a well settled mid and lower pack. This new snow has formed slabs that overlie several suncrusts on S and W aspects and may bond poorly in some areas. No significant shears found in the mid and lower pack, however thin snowpack areas are still suspect.
Avalanche Summary
A round of avalanche control on Mt Bosworth and Field in Yoho and Mt Whymper and the Simpson paths in Kootenay today produced numerous avalanches up to size 3. Many of these were running on sun crusts or melt freeze crusts and stepping down to the basal facets in thinner areas. Cornices were large and easy to trigger.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
30-50 cms of new snow over the last few days sits on buried wind slabs from last weeks storm. Although these windslabs are becoming more stubborn, if triggered they could step down to the deeper weak layers.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Now that the sun is higher in the sky, buried suncrust becomes more of a problem. Presently there are several crusts buried on S through E aspects, with 30-70 cm overlying them.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3