Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Tricky conditions right now with freezing levels reaching 2000m and warm, dense snow becoming more cohesive on the surface. Any avalanches that happen seem to be running further due to weak facets low in the avalanche paths. Watch overhead hazard.
Weather Forecast
The strong southwesterly flow continues for the next 24-hours with strong winds, freezing levels to 2000 m and another 10-20 cm of snow (rain low elevations). This changes at the end of the day Thursday following a cold front, when a ridge of high pressure builds, the skies clear and the temperatures drop by 10 degrees.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temperatures, winds, 10 cm of snow and light rain to ~2000 m have created dense windslabs that overlie facets from the Xmas cold snap and produce moderate test results. At lower elevations the middle of the snowpack is facetted and this is adding to the runout distance of any avalanches that occur.
Avalanche Summary
One size 2 avalanche observed in a steep path at 1900m on Mt. Field today. We suspect this is a windslab failing on facets below it. Further east, a new pattern is emerging with several size 2 to 2.5 avalanches failing as windslabs, then becoming deeper on facets at lower elevations. No evidence of this yet in Yoho, but observations are limited.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Windslab are all over the place in alpine terrain and they overlie weak facets formed during the Xmas cold snap. It would be easy to trigger a windslab right now, so avoid leeward loaded terrain. Stick to ridges or uniform, non-loaded slopes.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2