The snowpack in Little Yoho is significantly better than the shallower snowpack areas to the east. Cooler weather and less solar input is expected on Saturday.
Wind slabs have been reported at the ski hills recently. Strong winds Thursday night and light snow will add to this problem. Use caution when transitioning from solar aspects (with a crust) to northerly alpine aspects, where we suspect wind slab development to be the main concern.
Below the recent snow, a 90-150 cm slab sits on the Jan 30 facet layer. On all but high north aspects, recent sun crusts and the March 27 rain crust cap this slab, providing some security. Continue to use caution in thinner, high areas or when these crusts are weak or breaking down with daytime heat.
No new avalanches were observed or reported Friday. The field team noted active wind loading at upper elevations, and suspected reactive wind slab development in the alpine.
10cm of snow overlays a surface crusts found in most locations except north-facing alpine zones. The integrity of the snowpack is based mostly upon the strength of the surface crust when it refreezes overnight (or doesn't). In areas with no surface crust, where the snow is dry and the ski conditions are best, the snowpack is generally strong, but a mid-pack layer of facets (Jan 30) remains the main buried weak layer of concern.
A low-pressure system moving into the forecast region on Saturday is expected to bring precipitation, with snow accumulations of 5 to 10 cm. At lower elevations, this may fall as rain. Ridge-top winds are expected to ease with light values from the SW, and temperatures at valley bottoms will hover around zero. By the end of the weekend, a clearing trend is expected, accompanied by rising temperatures.
