Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
We are still getting daily reports of close calls and avalanche observations in this region. It's not the time to step into bigger terrain given the current snowpack, and will take some time to gain confidence. SH
Weather Forecast
Sunday looks slightly cooler with valley bottom freezing levels, and some sun in the Eastern portions. Winds will mainly be light Westerly, picking up later in the day with the chance of some light snow overnight into Monday.
Snowpack Summary
Fresh windslabs and cornice growth in the alpine with 30 to 50 cm since the warming a week ago. A 50-100 cm slab overlies the January 6th weak layer of surface hoar, facets and sun crust and snowpack tests indicate an unstable bond between the two. The lower snowpack is facetted and quite weak in thinner areas but is more settled in thicker areas.
Avalanche Summary
Snowshoers remote triggered a size 1.5 while approaching the climb Bow Falls today. This was at an upper treeline elevation. Another size 2.5 skier triggered avalanche occurred in the alpine area of Vermillion Peak in Kootenay, scrubbing to ground. Other natural activity to size 2.5 noted on a flight this afternoon occurring in the last 24 hours.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations on Saturday
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
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.