Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Winter is back and will stick around into the weekend, so adjust your plans accordingly. No spring corn; expect rain at low elevations and deep snow in the high alpine with some clearing late Friday. The avalanche danger is rising in alpine areas.
Weather Forecast
A significant storm will cross the area starting on Wed evening, building through Thurs and tapering my mid-day on Friday. Expect 30 cm of new snow and rain at lower elevations, along with extreme winds and freezing levels holding steady at 2000m. Temperatures drop and the weather will stabilize somewhat over the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Between 60-80 cm of snow has fallen in the last week. Extreme west winds on Wed have created windspread windslabs in high alpine areas (>3000m) over 100+ cm deep along with significant sluffing of loose snow. Conditions change dramatically with elevation so be wary that the low and treeline elevations are not representative of the high alpine now.
Avalanche Summary
Widespread dry loose snow avalanches and large slab avalanches were observed today and over the past 24-hours in steep, high alpine terrain.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Winter is back and the action is in the high alpine (>3000m) where you should avoid steep terrain and stick to mellow lines with no overhead hazard for the next few days. Huge winds are making deep windslabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Loose Dry
Deep, loose dry snow exists at the high elevations and is sluffing easily and running down gullies and steep alpine faces. This should settle fast with the spring temperatures but don't do anything steep for a few days at least.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2