Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Conditions are still pretty good with only 5-10cm falling in the last 24 hours under light winds. Watch for pockets of older wind slabs in alpine areas, and sluffing of facetted snow formed from the cold snap in very steep terrain features .
Weather Forecast
A return to colder temperatures tomorrow with lows around -25C and highs of -15C. Light NE winds for the next 2 days and no new snow.
Snowpack Summary
30 to 50 cm of snow has fallen since Feb 2. This has been affected by variable winds, isolated periods of intense solar radiation and most notably, sustained cold temperatures promoting faceting. Down 30 to 75cm, Jan 17 surface hoar produces sudden planar shears in isolated locations treeline an below. A weak basal snowpack exists in shallow areas
Avalanche Summary
Lake Louise reported a skier triggered hard wind slab which occurred today. The slide was a size 2 that occurred in the alpine with the sliding surface unknown. Some smaller wind slabs were noted on cathedral peak which had occurred in the last 24 hours.
Problems
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.