Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Avalanche control is being conducted at Bourgeau, Mt. Field and Mt Bosworth, no climbing or skiing in these locations tomorrow. Also, if the sun comes out, solar exposures stand to get very hot and potentially unstable.
Weather Forecast
The snow fall is tapering off and winds are becoming light. Also, expect intense solar radiation over the next few days. This will be more prominent on southern exposures.
Snowpack Summary
The storm snow has settled to approx 35cm as of this afternoon and shears are in the moderate range. Intense solar radiation is cooking south aspects and creating crusts. In shallow, weaker snowpack areas, the basal facets and Feb10 layers are still reactive in field tests. In deeper, uniform areas these problems are less of a concern.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches were observed or reported today.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Monday
Problems
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.