Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Snow and strong wind expected tonight and tomorrow morning. Temperatures will remain cold for the weekend - the return to winter continues...(LP)
Weather Forecast
We expect some snow tonight and tomorrow morning (~10-15 cm) with strong Southerly wind. Winds will switch to moderate to strong Northerly winds as the system passes tomorrow. Expect convective flurries for the remainder of the weekend and freezing levels will remain low.
Snowpack Summary
There was 10-15 cm overnight. There is some wind effect in the alpine that has created isolated soft slabs in immediate lee terrain. These slabs overlay 10-30 cm of previous storm snow, which rests on suncrusts on solar aspects and facetted snow on polar aspects.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches observed or reported.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.