Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Strong winds have scoured the alpine and have built wind slabs in certain terrain features.
At tree line and below, early season hazards exist, thinly buried trees, rocks and open creeks require a mindful approach.
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy for the first day of the weekend with snow flurries accumulating up to 2cm of new snow. Winds will be 20-40km/hr from the Northeast with temperatures ranging from -12 to -3. Sunday will see a mix of sun and cloud, no new snow, light northerly winds and slightly cooler temps.
Snowpack Summary
The freezing level dropped back to valley bottom on Thursday evening leaving 5-10cm of snow on top of a 3cm supportive crust with moist snow to ground below. The crust dissipates at ~2400m. At tree line the snowpack ranges from 30-60cm deep. Expect 30 to 40cm of recent snow above 2500m with extreme S-SW winds creating wind slabs and new cornices.
Avalanche Summary
Recent natural avalanche activity up to size 2 coming from steep gullies and alpine faces. Suspect the triggers were either cornice failures or wind slabs from previous strong to extreme winds.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Extreme SW winds and new snow Thursday have created wind slabs in open alpine areas. Natural avalanche activity has eased off with the cooler temps, but skiers and climbers will still be able to trigger them and should use caution in steep terrain.
- Be careful around wind loaded areas near ridge crests, cross loaded gullies and roll-overs.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2