Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Steady winds from the north have blown most of the recent snow into hard slabs in unusual locations (reverse loading). With moderate winds aloft on Friday ice climbers should be mindful of overhead terrain. Extreme cold warning for Yoho in effect.
Weather Forecast
Environment Canada has an extreme cold warning for Yoho - with windchill temps will feel like -40 frostbite may occur in minutes for Friday. Moderate west wind at ridge top tomorrow, highs of -19 under sunny skies. After Friday temperatures will climb to seasonal norms over the weekend with sunny skies. No snow is in the forecast.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20 cm of low density snow has been blown into hard wind slabs from north winds, so expect locally deep pockets of dense wind drifts in unusual areas (reverse loading). These slabs overlie a some facet layers with the main problem being the Dec 19 interface of facets, now buried down about 50-70 cm.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanche activity reported or observed in Little Yoho today, but we have minimal observations from this area - so low confidence.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Winds from the north have created hard wind slabs in many areas, and these are reverse from normal locations. These slabs are hard to trigger, with a single person, but if they go it will be a dense piece of snow to ride.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Facets buried on Dec 19 are down 50-70 cm in some locations. This is a concern wherever a more cohesive slab of snow sits on top of this weakness. Tree line or wind loaded areas seem to be the primary concern.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 3