Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
The non-spring like conditions continue. Mainly cloudy for Friday, but there could be more solar input on the East slopes which may increase the afternoon avalanche danger.
Weather Forecast
Friday's forecast is for 5-10cm along the divide, light to moderate SW winds, and 2000m freezing levels. We could see 20-30cm by Sunday night along the divide with almost no snow in the Eastern parts (Banff).
Snowpack Summary
Some wind effect and thin wind slabs in isolated areas have been noted in the alpine. Various types of temperature crusts or moist snow found on solar aspects and found on all aspects below 2000m. The March 15 suncrust is down 25-50 cm on solar aspects and still is a concern for skier triggering.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches observed or reported today.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday
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.
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.