Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Light wind with strong gusts are forecast and this may create a more widespread wind slab issue. This combined with the other field results today led us to bump up the hazard. Pick your lines carefully and some incredible skiing/boarding can be had!
Weather Forecast
Cloudy skies, light winds and moderate to strong gusts forecasted for tonight and tomorrow. Flurries for Sunday, 5-10 cm expected, greater amounts in the Bow Summit area.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 47 cm (sunshine & yoho) over past 3 days, generally bonding well and has had little wind effect so far. In shallow or weaker snowpack areas, the basal facets and Feb 10 layers are still reactive. In deeper uniform North aspects, these problems are less of a concern. South aspects, there are a few buried suncrusts that may pose a problem.
Avalanche Summary
A few soft storm slab naturals to size 2 in immediate lees in the alpine, sluffs up to size 2, and 2 days ago - a size 2.5 to ground in a shallow snowpack area in Little Yoho, East facing alpine slope. A couple of whumphs today in Purple Bowl and above Elevator shaft (Louise region) on the basal facets that propagated 50-300 m.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.