Up to 40cm and extreme winds have caused an avalanche cycle, with wind slabs up high, and overloading the Jan 24 layer at treeline and below. We expect touchy conditions for the next while.
Mounts Whymper, Simpson, and Wardle in Kootenay will be closed all day Saturday for avalanche control. Click the blue banner above for area maps.
Up to 40 cm of snow in the past 24 hours coupled with sustained extreme winds have formed deep windslabs in most open areas. Expect these to be touchy in the short term.
A 35-50+ cm slab sits over the Jan. 24th surface hoar layer on shady aspects, and crust/ facets on southerly slopes. The surface hoar is very touchy, especially in Yoho and Kootenay between 1600-2200m. We expect this to continue for the next while.
Sunshine ski area was getting size 1 - 2 wind slabs with ski cuts and control, including a size in the wild west on the Jan 24th surface hoar. Poor visibility on a road patrol to Field, but lots of sluffing was observed, and we suspect a natural cycle is ongoing.
Up to 40 cm of new snow and extreme winds have formed deep, reactive windslabs in all areas. These overlie the Jan 24 layer (surface hoar/crust/facet) down 30-50+ cm at treeline. This layer has been very touchy in Kootenay and Yoho, and with this new load, we believe it may now wake up in areas south of Lake Louise. We expect touchy conditions for the next while.
The storm ends Friday night with a few cm expected and diminishing winds.
Saturday: Sunny with moderate W winds and no snow, Treeline temperatures staying at -7C.
Sunday: Sunny with moderate W winds, no snow and freezing levels to 1900m.
Monday: Mainly cloudy with strong W winds and no snow. Freezing levels rising to 2100m.
