Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Temperature swings, new snow and sustained winds will keep the avalanche hazard elevated for the next few days.
Weather Forecast
Friday will be another cold day at valley bottom with highs up to -19. You may be able to find refuge in the alpine where a temperature inversion exists and harbors warmer temps and light SW winds. Saturday will bring a warming trend, increasing winds and 5cm of snow.
Snowpack Summary
10 cm of new snow and sustained Southerly winds continue to build soft wind slabs in the alpine and open areas at tree line. There is up to 60 cm above the Dec 31 layer of facets, surface hoar and sun crust. Concern remains for the weak layers of facets and depth hoar near the base of the snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
Very few observations due to the cold temperatures preventing many people from getting outside. Local ski areas reporting wind slab formation that is skier triggerable in the immediate lee of terrain features.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Fresh wind slabs are forming in leeward areas from incremental snow fall and wind. These could be brittle and easy to trigger.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
This layer may present as surface hoar, facets or sun crust. It is buried 30-60 cm throughout the region and is producing 'sudden planar' results in stability tests.
- If triggered the persistent slab may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
The potential for deeper releases on the basal layers still exist. Several large avalanches have occurred on this layer in the past week.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger the deep persistent slab.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5