Recent winds have been variable across the region. Pay extra attention in areas showing signs of wind effect: e.g. cornices, fat looking slopes, or hollow, drummy sounds.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
We have entered a cool, dry spell. Expect light northerly winds, sun and slightly milder temperatures in the alpine; and cloud and cold temperatures in the valleys.For more details check out https://avalanche.ca/weather.
Avalanche Summary
A skier triggered a size 1 soft slab on a NW aspect and a size 2 glide slab release was observed at 1200 m. Otherwise, there has been little avalanche activity reported recently.
Snowpack Summary
Hard and soft wind slabs may be found on any recently wind-affected terrain, especially at alpine and treeline elevations. 40-70 cm recent dry snowfall overlies a mid- and lower snowpack which are reportedly well settled. There may be some storm snow interfaces to watch in specific areas. Storm slab properties may also change as the alpine gets some sun and temperatures rise. The early December weak layer (about a metre down) is now hard to find and unlikely to be triggered, except with a very heavy trigger. At the base of the snowpack, on high north aspects, basal facets overlie glacial ice.
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.