Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
The main concerns right now are small buried wind slabs and sluffing in steep terrain. We have removed the persistent slab problem because of a lack of activity on this layer, but the structural weakness remains and the problem may show up again.
Weather Forecast
A few more cm's of new snow with light NE winds. Moderately cool temperatures are forecast. Bring spring please.
Snowpack Summary
Buried wind slabs exist in most open areas at higher elevations, with loose surface facets at lower elevations. Mid pack surface hoar is rounding and inactive in tests. Deep facet layers are weak but are presently difficult to propagate.
Avalanche Summary
Small explosive triggered wind slabs were reported at local ski areas Thursday, with the debris entraining surface facets. Surface sluffing was also reported in steep treeline areas in Kootenay. We have not seen any avalanche activity on the persistent layers for about ten days and have removed this as a problem but the structural weakness remains.
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.