Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Watch for slab formation as you enter open areas. All lee areas near ridge crests should be considered suspect and conditions may change across a slope.
Weather Forecast
Light flurries forecasted saturday with a downward trend in temperatures starting saturday evening as another arctic flow arrives. Were expecting clear sky's and temperatures of -15 to -25 over the next few days.
Snowpack Summary
At 1850 m. 40 cm of settled storm snow sits on the Dec 19 layer of facets and produces moderate (PC) compression test results. Another profile at 2100 m. showed no shears in the snowpack. At the higher elevations, strong winds over the past week have created widespread wind slabs which will be easily triggered by people.
Avalanche Summary
Little avalanche activity was observed today. Lake Louise ski resort reported some natural activity releasing from recently developed windslabs in the alpine to sz 1.5.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
60cm of new snow from this past week sit on top of a weak layer of facets (Dec 19 layer). This interface is poorly bonded, resulting in many recent avalanches. This weak, faceted layer will persist for some time.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Wind Slabs
Thick wind slabs have formed in the lees of alpine features. These will be touchy in the short term with the current snow and wind forecast. Once initiated, they may trigger a persistent slab on the Dec.19th facets.
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2