Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
The snowpack is structurally weak, and avalanches can be triggered from random areas on steep slopes. Allow room in your decision making for this uncertainty by minimizing exposure to avalanche starting zones. Be patient, the snowpack will improve.
Weather Forecast
Systems embedded in a NW flow will continue to cross the region for the next few days. Expect 5-10 cm of new snow on Monday, temperatures ranging from -5 to -10 and strong NW winds.
Snowpack Summary
At Bow Summit, 13 cm of recent storm snow is being blown into soft slabs at higher elevations where the wind is effecting the snow. The total snowpack depth is 73 cm and comprised mostly of facets and depth hoar. This is a structurally weak snowpack that needs time and more snow in order to gain strength.
Avalanche Summary
Small (size 1) soft slab avalanches were observed in the Sunshine Village area today. No larger avalanches were reported or observed.
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.
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.