Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

Lake Louise reported triggering a couple of sz 1.5 slabs on the Jan 30 crust on E and SE aspects at TL and above Friday while Sunshine saw a large cornice failure to the south of their tenure that scrubbed out a deep slab on a NE aspect in the alpine.

In the Little Yoho subregion skiers triggered a sz 1.5 slab on the Jan. 30 layer at treeline below Wapta Peak

There was a remotely triggered avalanche just southwest of our region that likely failed on the Jan. 30th layer on Wednesday.

Last weekend's storm snow has settled to 15-20 cm with variable wind effect evident TL and above. This recent snow has buried a weak layer (dated January 30) which is starting to show signs of becoming active as slab properties develop. The mid-pack is generally weak with facets while depth hoar over a crust forms an even weaker base. The snowpack is the weakest in eastern areas where snow depths are low. In these areas the basal weaknesses should be carefully considered.

Saturday evening W-SW winds are expected to diminish to light and shift NW as the Arctic ridge re-asserts itself further over the next few days. Overnight lows at treeline near -26C.

Cloud is still in the forecast for Sunday and the winds are to increase back to the moderate range in the alpine as temperatures approach -15C for the high at treeline.

Clearing trend for Monday as the temperatures tick lower.

• Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
• Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.