We are just starting to forecast for the season and are operating with very little information right now. Pacific air is bringing snow. This, coupled with an arctic shift on Tuesday, can be expected to increase avalanche hazard.
Recent west winds have created pockets of slab at treeline and in the alpine. While these are now aging , expect the incoming snow and winds to create fresh slabs.
Incoming snow may pile up fairly quickly. Ice Climbers should be aware of the potential for loose snow avalanches failing naturally in steep terrain particularly with gusty winds in the forecast.
The start of a NW flow has brought a few cm in the last 24 hrs and, as winds pick up to strong in the alpine Monday, may bring as much as 20cm by Tuesday. An arctic front will descend through the region Tuesday. As this air collides with the lingering NW flow, locally intense snowfall and potentially some gusty winds can be expected.
Treeline snow depths range from 30-50 cm with up to to 80 cm is found in the lee features. The snowpack is generally faceted with a thin October crust near the surface providing support to ski travel although this crust is not continuous across all terrain.. Below treeline snowpack depths have not reached threshold to avalanche..
With some further explosive control work yesterday, the Lake Louise snow safety team triggered a size 1.5 wind slab 30m wide and 30 cm deep . This is similar to results created earlier in the week.
