Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Many early season hazards are just under a skiff of snow. Its not the time to charge especially at lower elevations.
Weather Forecast
Little change in the weather forecast for the remainder of the week. Day time high temps for valley bottom will hover around 0 degrees. The sky will remain clear and winds light.
Snowpack Summary
15 to 30cm of winds slab is present on alpine and tree line lee slopes. This wind slab problem overlays several faceted layers in the mid pack. Well developed weak facets near the ground and the Oct crust, have resulted in easy test results in some areas. Treeline snow depths range from 50-80 cm, with up to 110 cm in wind loaded alpine areas.
Avalanche Summary
Few loose dry avalanches observed from steep alpine terrain to size 1.5. These avalanches appear to have released from loose surface snow.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Small amounts of new snow and recent strong SW wind on Monday have created wind-slabs in lee areas in the alpine.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
The basal facets and Oct crust have been most reactive in the Lake Louise area, but it is likely that similar pockets exist throughout the forecast area. Keep watching for weak areas at the base of the snowpack, especially in steep or convex terrain.
- Be aware of the potential for full depth avalanches due to weak layers at the base of the snowpack.
- Convex features and steep unsupported slopes will be most prone to triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2