Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
We are asking all backcountry travelers to keep their risk to an absolute minimum. Now is not the time for an accident, which will stress the capacity of our teams & the medical system. Enjoy the fresh air but restrain your activities.
Weather Forecast
The weather looks stable for the next few days with Wednesday's temperatures ranging from -4 to -12. Some cloud cover and light flurries accompanied by light to moderate winds. Even the 10 day forecast looks like very little new snow thankfully (we don't say that often).
Snowpack Summary
Sun crust on steep solar aspects. 15-20 cm of soft snow over a firm mid pack has been redistributed by moderate winds from various directions (SW, N and E). Wind slabs are present in steep lee areas, with wind effect on many open slopes above treeline. In shallow snowpack areas the weak basal facets remain a concern.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported on Tuesday, but then our observations are very limited to road patrols only.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent snow and variable wind directions (SW, N and E) have developed wind slabs in lee areas on a variety of aspects. These are beginning to bond but use caution if you encounter them in steep terrain, especially in thin snowpack areas.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Variable winds may create pockets of wind slab in some unexpected locations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
Use caution in thin snowpack areas averaging 150cm or less. In these areas the basal snowpack layer of depth hoar and facets remains weak, and the mid and upper snowpack is thin enough to allow for triggering of the deep persistent layer.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger the deep persistent slab.
- Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5