With the arrival of a substantial storm, we have expanded this region to include terrain south of Lake Louise, where the Jan 24 layer may wake up as it becomes loaded. The wind has been blowing at over 120 km/hr, and we expect 20-40 cm overnight, which will initiate a natural avalanche cycle. Avoid all avalanche terrain on Friday.
30-40 cm of forecasted snow and sustained extreme winds have formed deep windslabs in most open areas, and storm slabs in low elevation areas sheltered from the wind. A natural avalanche cycle will occur on Friday.
A 35-50 cm slab over the Jan. 24th surface hoar layer is very touchy and will almost certainly release if you ski through any steep slope between 1600 and 2200 m in this area. We expect an avalanche cycle on this layer with new snow and wind.
Sunshine and Lake Louise ski areas reported explosive and skier-controlled wind slabs in alpine lees up to size 1. Avalanches up to size 2 were reported on Mt Dennis (ice climbing areas) in Field.
Visibility was very limited on Thursday, and most people were sheltering from the wind.
Up to 30 cm of new snow and extreme winds will form deep, reactive windslabs in all areas. These overlie the Jan 24 layer (surface hoar/crust/facet) down 30-40 cm at treeline. This layer has been very touchy in Kootenay and Yoho, and with this new load, we believe it may now wake up in areas south of Lake Louise. We expect a natural avalanche cycle on Friday.
The storm has arrived, led in by winds in excess of 120 km/hr and snow that began falling Thursday afternoon. Storm predictions are calling for 30-40 cm north of Lake Louise, and 10-15 cm south of Lake Louise, with extreme SW winds in all areas. Temperatures will remain in the -5 to -10 range, and the whole thing should calm down and clear out by Friday evening. Hang onto your hat!
