Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Banff, Banff Yoho Kootenay, East Side 93N, Field, Kootenay, LLSA, Lake Louise, Little Yoho, Sunshine, West Side 93N.
With fresh snow, some great skiing can be found, but it's hard to have faith in the snowpack. Natural avalanches should decline, but human triggering remains possible.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Ski hills explosive triggered size 1 wind slabs again today in previously worked terrain. Thursday, Louise reported semi-circular bowl (Lake Louise ski hill backcountry) had slid naturally to size 3. Avalanches to size 1 have been triggered on steep open slopes below treeline around Louise, in the maintenance cliffs area, failing on the ground.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs hidden by fresh snow are in the alpine, and at treeline. These wind slabs overlie the various Jan PWL interfaces of sun crusts, facets, and surface hoar down 65-120 cm. The weaker Nov. 16 basal facet layer is down 100-200 cm and produces moderate to hard sudden collapse results. Deeper snowpack areas west of the divide are stronger and more supportive than areas to the east.
Weather Summary
Saturday: Partly cloudy skies with SW winds (20-30km/h) and isolated flurries developing in the afternoon as the winds shift to the East. Upto 5 cm expected along the East slopes.
Sunday: Expect cloud and steady light snow with SE to S ridgetop winds (20-30 km/h). Accumulations will be minimal.
Alpine temperatures will range between -10 to -15C for the weekend.
For a more detailed weather forecast, click here.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Reports of wind slabs being reactive in some locations. Remain vigilant in lee areas with new snow and wind where wind slabs are more likely and may be hidden by the fresh snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Three persistent weak layers formed in January are down 60-100 cm. The biggest concern is triggering these buried suncrusts on steep solar slopes, but weaker facets and isolated surface hoar can be found on the same interface on shaded aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
Weak facets and depth hoar are present at the bottom of the snowpack which inspires very little confidence. Be especially cautious in thin snowpack areas, which are likely areas for triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3