Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Good skiing exists in sheltered areas at treeline. Last weeks storm snow has settled into a very supportive early season snowpack. Concern over the deep persistent weakness still exists and this problem should be treated with respect.
Weather Forecast
Winds will increase to moderate to strong from the W / SW on Wednesday with only a few cm's of new snow forecasted. On Thursday and Friday, we should see anywhere from 5-20 cm of new snow with strong SW winds. Temperatures will stay cool until Friday when freezing levels are forecast to rise to ~ 1700m.
Snowpack Summary
5-15 cm of fresh snow Monday overnight sits on a variety of surfaces: a rain crust below ~2000m , a sun crust on steep solar aspects, windslabs in the alpine and exposed treeline areas and settled snow everywhere else. Melt/freeze crusts and/or facets lurk at the bottom of the snowpack. Snowpack depths at tree-line average 60-110 cm
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed on a field trip in the Dolomite Shoulder area on Tuesday or reported to us by local ski hills.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Buried windslabs exist in the alpine and down into some tree-line locations, and increasing winds on Wednesday will build new ones in alpine and treeline terrain that is exposed to the wind.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow. Avoid wind loaded terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
Avalanches failing on this layer are tapering off, however, forecasters are still receiving occasional reports of them occurring. The latest reports are not larger than size 2, but uncertainty surrounding this problem still exists.
- Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.
- Be wary of slopes that did not previously avalanche.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5