Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Conditions will change soon, with one more day of low danger before the next storm arrives on Friday. We continue to search for buried surface hoar in isolated locations, and although we have let to see an avalanche release on it - we remain wary.
Weather Forecast
Thursday is the warm up day with a cold morning (-25) but expect highs in some areas up to -5 with generally clear skies and no new snow. Friday and Saturday look snowy with 10 cm expected each day but winds and temperatures will remain moderate.
Snowpack Summary
5-10 cm of new snow overlies low density facets that formed near the surface during the current cold spell. These surface conditions can produce dry loose avalanches in steep places, but slab formation has been minimal. The distribution of the Jan 17 SH is spotty, but in some areas (Kootenay) it appears prominent; strength tests are hard & sudden
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported.
Confidence
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.
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.