Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Increased wind will create fresh wind slabs on Sunday. Also, be on the look out for wind slabs that are buried.
Weather Forecast
Sunday will see a slight warming trend. Small amounts of snow are expected. Wind is expected to pick up into the strong range from the W-SW for Sun and Mon. All of these weather factors will increase wind slab development.
Snowpack Summary
Over a meter of new snow has fallen at treeline in the Little Yoho region over the last week with recent winds creating wind slabs in alpine and exposed treeline lee areas. The new snow has settled into 50-80 cm of storm snow over the Feb 19 interface and seems to be bonding well in most places. Surface snow is sluffing easily in steep terrain.
Avalanche Summary
Lake Louise ski patrol triggered a size 2 wind slab avalanche that stepped down to the Jan 27 facet layer which produced a fracture line that was 80 to 120cm deep. Also, at Serac in Kootenay, an ACMG guide reported a size 2.5 loose dry avalanche triggered by a cornice. Limited details, but it reportedly kicked up a substantial powder cloud.
Confidence
Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Sunday
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Ongoing new snow and wind continue to create wind slabs in alpine and exposed treeline lee areas. Increased wind from the West in the strong range will add to the problem on Sunday. Cornices have also grown quickly and should be considered suspect.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created slabs over weaker snow.
- Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Loose Dry
Significant sluffing in steep terrain in areas that received more snow late last week. Increased wind will add to the problem on Sunday. Watch your exposure to steep terrain traps and gully features.
- On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2