Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Controlling the urge to ski the fresh powder on big features will be the most important factor to avoiding an avalanche incident. Stick to lower angled slopes with little overhead hazard. There have been a few close calls already.
Weather Forecast
Clear skies Thursday with minimal inputs of wind. Increase cloud Friday with a chance of flurries, no significant snow accumulations expected.
Snowpack Summary
30-60cm of settled storm snow has formed storm slabs all elevations and aspects. Below the new snow the snowpack structure is generally weak, consisting of facets and depth hoar and a Nov crust up to 2500m. These weak layers are getting overloaded with all of the new snow.
Avalanche Summary
Natural avalanche activity to size 3 on all aspects and elevations has slowed from a few days ago. Explosive control today continued to produce large avalanches to size 3 running full path. Skier triggered avalanches continue to be reported in the forecast region.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs continue to be reactive. Natural activity has lessened but the likelihood of triggering an avalanche is high.
- If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
The weak, faceted mid and lower pack is overloaded by the new storm snow at all elevations. If you trigger the deep facets it will result in a very large avalanche.
- Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5