The danger is Moderate, but will change fast with inputs like sun, wind, etc. This is due to the fact that we have prominent facets that are fickle to these inputs, and haven't had warmer spring temperatures yet. Watch for these changes locally.
Weather Forecast
Thursday will see temperatures near 0C at valley bottom and around -10C at 3000m. W winds will increase in the afternoon into the moderate range at 3000m with no new snow expected. There could be increased solar input especially in the E with less cloud cover. A big warmup is predicted next week which will be something to watch out for.
Snowpack Summary
15-30cm recent low density snow over previously wind blown surfaces in the alpine, and 30-50cm of facets below. In little Yoho the snowpack is generally thicker and settled, except for thin areas which have facets to ground. Steep areas continue to produce sluffing in many areas with buried suncrust on steep S aspects.
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche control today in Yoho confirms the combination of smaller (size 2) wind slabs entraining facets producing avalanches that run far for their mass. Slides to size 3 were produced on Mount Field and Bosworth where they entrained facets, and only produced smaller slides where they did not. Other areas out E have far less activity.
Problems
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.
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.