Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Good ski quality exists in sheltered areas near treeline. Although we didn't have any reports of large avalanches failing on the basal facets today, we have had several over the last week. This layer demands some respect and caution.
Weather Forecast
Monday looks to be clear with strong westerly alpine winds. The winds die down Tuesday as the next storm approaches bringing 10 -20 cm with the highest amounts in the northern part of the region. Alpine winds will remain light to moderate from the west until Wednesday. Temperatures will stay cool in the -5 to -10 range at treeline elevations.
Snowpack Summary
5-20 cm of fresh snow in the last two days sits on a variety of surfaces: a rain crust below 2000m, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, windslabs in the alpine and exposed treeline areas and settled snow everywhere else. Melt/freeze crusts and/or facets lurk at the bottom of the snowpack. Snowpack depths at tree-line average 60-110 cm
Avalanche Summary
Fresh windslabs up to size 1.5 were reported from both Sunshine and Lake Louise ski hills. Today was the first day without a report of a deeper avalanche since last weeks storm, but there was limited observations due to visibility.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Reactive windslabs exist in the alpine and down into some tree-line locations. Wind loading was observed through the day Saturday and Sunday with moderate to strong west winds.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow. Avoid wind loaded terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
The lower snowpack is facetted on shaded aspects and a mix of facets and suncrusts on solar aspects. Although natural avalanche activity has decreased on this layer we continue to receive reports of human triggering.
- Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5