Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks
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.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.
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.
Snowpack Summary
A few cm's of new snow Thursday with light E winds. Buried wind slabs exist in most open areas at higher elevations, with loose surface facets at lower elevations. Three mid-pack weak layers of surface hoar and/or facets down 100-130 cm appear well bonded, but are worth checking on bigger slopes. Recent tests are showing no results on those layers.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures should cool on Friday while the winds remain light from the East. About 5cm of new snow is expected Friday with an additional 5 cm on Saturday and continued light winds and cool temperatures.
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Buried wind slabs exist in lee areas in the alpine. While they may not be very thick or particularly touchy, they certainly have the potential to carry you into an undesirable location (cliffs/terrain traps) if triggered in steep terrain.