Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Weather Forecast
Slight warming (highs of -7 by friday), increasing westerly wind(moderate on Wednesday) cloudy skies and light flurries are forecast through the rest of the week.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs in alpine and tree line areas. 30-60cm of snow over the Jan 6 surface hoar/facet/sun crust layer, which is becoming less reactive to skier triggering. Sudden collapse results persist on the Jan 6 and Dec 3 layers in the Kootenay region. Isolated whumphing on mid-pack facets/surface hoar today.
Avalanche Summary
Visitor Safety was able to trigger a size 1.5 wind slab on a SE steep alpine feature on Monday near Observation Peak. A large natural cornice collapse also occurred Monday in the Sunshine backcountry on Quartz Ridge. Lots of evidence of the previous widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 on all aspects with some very large propagations.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3