Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks
Its chilly out there! We are slowly gaining confidence with the weak layers in the snowpack, but it will take time before its "good to go".
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Avalanche Summary
One size 3 avalanche was observed in good light that occurred within the last 48 hours on a north facing alpine feature on Pilot Mountain. It looked to initiate on the persistent layers but stepped to ground in many locations. No other avalanches have been observed or reported in the last 48 hours.
Snowpack Summary
The upper pack consists of storm snow from earlier in the month that is bonding and settling. This overlies the mid-pack where there are three weak layers that are gaining strength. These layers continue to produce moderate, sudden planar test results on surface hoar in deep tap tests, and hard to no results with standard compression tests.
Weather Forecast
An arctic ridge over the area brings mostly clear, dry and cold conditions through the end of the week. There is a chance of light flurries along the divide but little accumulation is expected. Winds are forecasted to be light Thursday increasing Friday. A warming trend arrives towards the the weekend.
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A strong upper snowpack overlies three weak layers in the mid snowpack: Jan 16, Jan 6, and Dec 15. All are a mix of sun crust, surface hoar and facets depending on location, and we are slowly gaining confidence with these layers.