Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Stormy cool weather has deposited some new snow up high in the alpine creating a new windslab problem. The sun will be out this weekend so head's up with the daytime heating. Spring time - start early, finish early especially on south slopes.
Weather Forecast
A largely unsettled cold air mass will bring about convective showers and generally calm winds over the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10 cm's of new snow in the high alpine. Intermittent gusty westerlies developing windslabs up to 30cm's in specific areas in the alpine. Firm crusts up to 10 cms thick remain intact at most elevations below the new snow surface.
Avalanche Summary
Some loose dry avalanches have observed in high alpine today up to size 1.5. Small windslabs sitting on the recent crusts are reactive to skier triggering have been reported up on the Wapta Icefield.
Problems
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.
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.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.