Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Good alpine ski quality reported on sheltered SE through NE aspects West of the divide today. Wind exposed areas have variable ski quality. Generally good ice climbing conditions until Monday. SH
Weather Forecast
Continued cool temperatures, light to moderate SW winds, and no new snow will not change the hazard for Sunday. Monday expect moderate to strong winds switching from SW to NW in the alpine, and possibly 10cm of snow at upper elevations which may increase the overall hazard.
Snowpack Summary
Cold temps facetting the snowpack, especially in thinner areas. In thicker snowpack areas there is generally a well settled midpack with the Nov. 6 crust lying 20-30cm above the ground up to 2700m. This has been observed to be breaking down as time goes on, facetting in thinner snowpack areas. Thin windslabs from previous NW winds in exposed areas.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity observed in the past 24 hrs.
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.