10-20 cm of new snow, and reverse wind loading from the north has arrived. The big drop in temperatures is on it's way.
Avoid exposing yourself to avalanche terrain, and allow the inherently weak snowpack to adjust to all these changes.
Moderate north winds at ridge top are forming new wind slabs on slopes that don't typically see wind loading. The wind slabs from previous moderate to strong SW winds are still out there, so finding wind slabs above tree line is likely.
The new low density snow will be sluffing out of steep terrain over the next day or two, especially if there is a trigger like strong direct sun.
The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Avalanches initiating in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to this layer and gain significant mass.
Snowballing and previous loose wet activity was noted on steep west aspects near Weeping Wall.
A large avalanche (sz3) observed Thursday in the Icefields. Started in the alpine, running mid-track on deep facets, well into below treeline.
If you're out in the hills, don't forget to post to the MIN. Every bit of information helps.
10 to 20cm of new snow overlies a melt-freeze crust up to 2000m, and moderate north winds at ridge top are redistributing the new snow in an atypical pattern. This, along with the small increments of snow and the wind slabs formed by strong SW winds over the past week, is all sitting on a generally weak and facetted snowpack. The depth of the snowpack is between 50 and 120cm, with shallow areas being especially weak.
Cold, clear, and dry weather is in store for the weekend as a surface ridge of high pressure is established over the region.
Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
