Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Watch for facet avalanches which can be triggered by skiers or climbers. There have been numerous reports of small sluffs which pick up mass and travel further than expected in confined features. SH
Weather Forecast
A couple cm of snow, light NW winds, valley temps around -5C and alpine temperatures in the -15C range for Friday. Saturday we will se a switch to a W/SW flow aith light amounts of snow in the forecast.
Snowpack Summary
In general there is 10-15 cm over the Jan 6 combination of surface hoar, facets and sun crust depending on aspect and elevation. There are isolated, small wind slabs in the immediate lees of ridge crests formed over the last 48 hours. The snowpack is facetting but still supportive in this region where over a meter.
Avalanche Summary
Over the last few days facet avalanches have been reported which aren't large in size (1-1.5) but are running much further than expected. These will be of most consequence in gully features and terrain traps. Some small wind slabs have also been triggered of similar size in the alpine which were mainly running on suncrust.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Loose Dry
The new snow and surface facets will sluff easily in very steep terrain. Skiers remember to manage the sluffs, and ice climbers watch you don't get knocked off your feet.
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
The extent of wind slab formation in this area hasn't been well established. Watch for newly formed, small wind slabs in immediate lees of high alpine ridges due to previously strong winds earlier this week.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2