Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Avalanche control continues to produce large avalanches and with more wind coming on Wednesday night, keep your terrain selection conservative. Check out this large natural avalanche that ran over the Bourgeau Left-hand ice climb on Tuesday.
Weather Forecast
The snow and wind will start again overnight on Wednesday, with forecasts indicating up to 100 km/hr from the SW and 5-10 cm of snow through the day. Looks like the next ten days will be a continuous flurries; never more than a few cm per day but continuing daily for at least a week.
Snowpack Summary
The last storm stared with extreme winds then deposited 50cm of snow creating a widespread avalanche cycle failing mainly below this storm snow. Indications are that the surface snow needs some wind in order to stiffen the slab, otherwise it won't propagate. Settlement will be slow over the next few days and this slab will release with triggers.
Avalanche Summary
We are past the peak of the avalanche cycle and naturally released avalanches were not observed on Wednesday. However, explosive triggers continue to easily release large avalanches running to the bottom of their paths. This includes large avalanches on Mt Field and Mt Dennis. Results in the Simpson area were limited due to less wind in the area.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong overnight winds on Wednesday will redistribute the recent storm snow and create widespread windslabs in all open areas, potentially even on open slopes below treeline. Stick to sheltered terrain; things will still be tricky out there.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3