Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche Bulletin - Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks
Watch for new windslabs as you approach or enter lee areas near ridgecrests. Watch for loose snow in gully features.
Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Dry
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid ice climbs exposed to steep rocky terrain on solar aspects during the middle of the day.
- The volume of sluffing could knock you over; choose your climb carefully and belay when exposed.
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Previous new snow is being moved by the chinook winds, continuing snowfall and wind over the next few days will likely make the problem worse.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow. Avoid wind loaded terrain.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported today
Snowpack Summary
20-50cm of snow sits over the december 15 surface hoar layer which is beginning to develop some slab properties. Below this the snowpack is heavily faceted with remnants of older crust's still lingering throughout. In many areas loose faceted surface snow continues to be the main instability of the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
The chinook winds showed up on Saturday and may be expected to build windslabs in immediate lee areas near ridgecrests. New snow and continuing wind over the next few days will likely add to the problem.
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Loose snow will continue to be a problem in steep rocky areas and gullies until the facets round out a bit.