Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Windslabs and strong wind forming new wind slabs in lee areas in the alpine.
Weather Forecast
Reasonable temperatures of about -6 to -10 are expected on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, the wind is expected to taper off to the light range and some clear periods may develop. Roughly 10cm of snow is expected Thursday afternoon in to Friday.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20 cm of snow in the past several days. Strong wind has created fresh wind slabs at treeline and in the alpine up to 20cm thick today. In many areas a dense mid pack sits over the basal weak layers of facets and depth hoar. Deep snowpack areas (>150 cm) have a denser base. A buried rain crust from February 1st is present up to 1850 m.
Avalanche Summary
Lake Louise and Sunshine ski patrol both reported small soft wind slabs to size 1. Otherwise no avalanches observed or reported today.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable on Tuesday
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong wind from the SW materialized today and created wind slabs in lee areas. Ski patrollers could easily ski cut small soft avalanches today. Travel where you can avoid wind slabs until they have a chance to bond.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
High consequence avalanches on the facets and depth hoar at the base of the snowpack remain possible. Large triggers such as cornices and wind slabs, or human triggering in thin snowpack areas are most likely to result in avalanches on this layer.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5