Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
The current weather pattern is stable. However, judicious decision making is still crucial to navigate through current conditions safely.
Weather Forecast
A very slight warming trend is expected to affect the forecast region starting tomorrow, however, it is not expected to be warm enough to affect the hazard rating significantly. Otherwise little change is expected.
Snowpack Summary
30-40cm of snow sit on top of Feb10th layer of facets, sun crust and surface hoar. Field tests continue to show an easy to moderate sudden collapse at this interface. Some isolated wind slabs are present in the alpine. If triggered these wind slabs could step down to the Feb 10th interface.
Avalanche Summary
Evidence of a major cycle (occurring 72 hours ago) is still visible throughout the forecast region. However, no new avalanches were observed of reported today.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.