Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
In general the snowpack is strong and we have seen the mid snowpack weak layers gain significant strength over the past two weeks. RIght now the main issue is windslabs in leeward pockets from the past 48 hours - they are small but could catch you.
Weather Forecast
Minor warming trend over the next few days, with highs reaching -2 by Thursday. Otherwise expect light flurries with no significant accumulations over the next few days. Overnight Tuesday will continue to be windy, with winds shifting to the southwest and slowing down on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
5 cm of loose snow on the surface at treeline with wind slabs forming in open areas at higher elevations. Three mid-pack weak layers of surface hoar and/or facets appear well bonded, but are worth keeping in mind on bigger slopes. Snowpack tests are showing no results on those layers.
Avalanche Summary
Windslabs us to size 1.5 from explosives control at Sunshine Village. Otherwise no new avalanches reported.
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.
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.