Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Great skiing conditions at treeline and above. Soft snow overlies a strong base. We are waiting for the winds to pick up in order to see the avalanche danger rise - but until then enjoy the good early season conditions. Looks like snow on Friday.
Weather Forecast
Expect overcast skies and light flurries for Wednesday, with treeline temperatures ranging from -5 to -10 and winds continuing to be light from the SW.
Snowpack Summary
15-30 cm of soft snow sits on top of a supportive (5-10cm) crust which overlies a strong base. The bond to the crust seems strong in most places, but we are watching this closely to see how it evolves. Additionally, there is a lot of soft snow available for wind transport, and once we get a good wind storm then expect the avalanche danger to rise
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported today. We had teams on Highway 93 north, and east towards Kananasksis Country.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.