Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Avalanche activity has decreased but a few new natural and skier triggered avalanches were observed Sunday. Continue to treat big slopes carefully and watch for the effects of daytime heating on the snowpack later in the day. Start and finish early!
Weather Forecast
Cool temperatures with freezing levels at valley bottom are expected Sunday night. Monday the SW winds begin to increase to moderate or strong by the end of the day. Clouds will start building later in the afternoon and up to 5 cm of new snow is expected in the evening. Freezing levels will rise to around 2200 m and remain high into Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
20-50 cm of snow from Thursday and Friday continues to settle and is beginning to bond to the underlying surfaces of crusts, facets and storm snow, but weaknesses are still present. Moist snow at lower elevations and on solar aspects later in the day. Snowpack depths have reached seasonal highs above 2000 m on N aspects. Still wintery up there!
Avalanche Summary
Sunday we saw continued evidence of the widespread natural and skier triggered avalanche cycle up to size 3 on most aspects above 2000 m. A couple new natural and skier triggered avalanches were observed though activity has slowed down. Still some sluffing on steep N aspects, loose wet on steep solar aspects and several recent cornice failures.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Significant snowfall over the last week with strong to extreme winds created widespread storm slabs in the alpine. These are beginning to bond but remain somewhat suspect. Approach large slopes cautiously and minimize exposure to cornices.
- Use conservative route selection, stick to supported terrain features, avoid overhead hazards.
- The recent snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Loose Wet
Lower elevations and solar aspects will have a solid crust in the morning but intense solar inputs and will weaken these crusts allowing for wet loose or wet slab avalanches later in the day. Travel and return early before things heat up.
- Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.
- If triggered, loose wet sluffs may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2