Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Storm snow on south aspects may become unstable due to strong solar radiation. Be aware of afternoon heating on sunny aspects.
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure will develop over the area on Monday. Light southerly winds and seasonal temperatures with high diurnal swings are forecast. The ridge breaks down on Tuesday and a weak front passes through with slightly warmer temperatures and light precipitation.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 60 cm of storm snow since Friday is settling and bonding to previous surfaces. Cool temperatures have tightened the upper pack and has promoted bonding within the storm snow and on the storm snow interface, however we still expect to see some touchy storm slabs, and lingering wind slabs in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
Explosive control on highway paths in Yoho Park produced only minimal results with little slab propagation. Control work on Sunshine Road produced a Class 3.5 that ran to ground on a slope that previously had not slid this winter. Natural over Cascade waterfall in afternoon with solar heating.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.