Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
The ski quality has improved but the chance of triggering large loose dry avalanches has increased. We may see the danger increase over the next few days with warmer temps and increased winds.
Weather Forecast
Sunday will be another cold one but there is hope. Monday we will start to see temperatures moderate into the first week of the new year. Winds will be light to moderate turning Westerly and then increasing Monday night. No snow in the immediate forecast.
Snowpack Summary
15-40cm of recent snow overlies a thick layer of facets formed earlier in Dec. Below this the Dec.15 layer of surface hoar (below 2100m) and hard surfaces or facets (depending on location) is down 30-50cm. Below is a generally supportive snow pack with multiple crusts, that is slowly weakening. Some alpine wind slab formation starting to happen.
Avalanche Summary
Human and explosive triggered avalanches observed in the last 48 hours including an out of bounds skier at Lake Louise. These avalanches arent yet large in size (1.5) but are running very far, and can drag someone down. Some new small (sz 1-1.5 ) windslabs have been triggered in immediate lees and exposed slopes in the alpine.
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.
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.