Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Be prepared for the cold when recreating this week. Even a small mishap in the day can become critical in these temperatures.
Weather Forecast
An arctic ridge of high pressure will linger in the bulletin region for the remainder of the week. Temperatures will remain frigid, with evening lows down to -30. A temperature inversion has set in at higher elevations. Light winds, sunny skies and temperatures in the low negative teens will make the alpine the place to be.
Snowpack Summary
Wide spread wind effect above treeline has created wind slab on NE to SE aspects. At treeline elevations, up to 65cm of snow sits over the Jan.17 surface hoar. In shallower areas weak facets and depth hoar exist below the Dec 10 interface. In deeper snow packs this basal weakness is less pronounced.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed today.
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.