Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
A cautious approach to terrain is important as large avalanches are still possible. The cold temperatures are facetting out thin snowpack areas.
Weather Forecast
Light snowfall, gusty winds, and and gradually warming temperatures each day this week will hold the avalanche forecast steady.
Snowpack Summary
Wind effected surface snow and settling storm snow overlies three mid- pack weak layers 100-130cm down that are gaining strength. These layers continue to produce moderate, sudden planar test results on surface hoar in deep tap tests, and hard to no results with standard compression tests. Thin snowpack areas are degrading/facetting in the cold.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed in the last 48 hours.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.