Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
We are pressed under a cold Arctic airmass with rock bottom temperatures. Consider the risk of prolonged exposure in the event of even a small incident and plan accordingly.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches were observed or reported today.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow from last week has been redistributed into wind slabs, which now sit on top of the Jan 30 interface. This layer is active, with recent avalanche activity. The mid-pack is generally weak with facets while depth hoar over a crust forms an even weaker base. The snowpack is the weakest in eastern areas where snow depths are low. In these areas the basal weaknesses should be carefully considered.
Weather Summary
Tomorrow's temperatures will remain as cold as today, with only a gradual warming trend through the coming week. The wind will stay light from the North, maintaining the influence of the Arctic air mass. No snow is expected, though some cloud cover may develop in the afternoon.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Winds have created a layer of hard windslab in many alpine lee features and moved snow in open areas at treeline. The wind transport has contributed to slab development with potential failure planes in the storm snow, at the January 30 facets, sun crusts, and isolated surface hoar.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2