Continuing light snowfall and moderate to strong W-SW winds will maintain a slow steady increase in Avalanche Danger. Lots of early season hazards to travel cautiously. Getting much colder again by midweek - days are short and the nights are long.
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Tuesday
Weather Forecast
An arctic air mass is sitting over most of the province. A low pressure system developing along the arctic front will continue to produce light snow. Westerly wind values will be in the moderate to strong range. Colder arctic air will slip southwards dropping temps over the next 48 hours but light snowfalls and mod-strong winds will persist in our forecast area on Tuesday with temperatures dropping to -20 at least on Wednesday.
Avalanche Summary
Limited obs due to obscured conditions.
Snowpack Summary
Fresh new wind slabs forming along ridge crests and in gully features due to redistribution by wind action.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.