Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Lots of new snow loading and a lot of natural avalanche activity on Saturday. Avalanche activity will taper off on Sunday but avoid any overhead hazard and stick to moderate terrain until things quiet down.
Weather Forecast
Precipitation will taper off on Saturday night but flurries will continue through Sunday with another 5cm expected to fall. Winds should become light to moderate out of the SW and temperatures are forecast to stay below freezing and relatively steady until Monday.
Snowpack Summary
20-40cm of new has fallen with Moderate to Strong SW winds. Lots of wind slabs are present above treeline with new cornice development. This large load of new snow sits on a supportive mid-pack in most areas, but thinner spots still have weak facets and depth hoar near the base of the snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
Poor visibility on Saturday, but natural, skier and explosive triggered avalanches were observed up to size 2.5 on all aspects running far down the paths. Ski cutting of wind loaded slopes produced avalanches and lots of sluffing in steep gullies was observed. Lots of whumphing in thin areas today!
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Loose Dry
Gusty Southwest winds have been moving the new snow around and sluffing in steep gullies was observed on Saturday. Use caution in confined gullies or above terrain traps.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
20-40cm of new snow with moderate to strong winds have formed new winds slabs above treeline and rapid cornice development. Human triggering will be likely for the next day or two.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Be conservative with your terrain choices, especially when entering larger, steeper features. Dig down to see if the January surface hoar or the December facets are present and take appropriate precautions if they are.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3