Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
There is decent snow cover for November at upper elevations with a supportive lower snowpack. Watch for isolated wind slabs which may be sitting over a rain crust depending on elevation and aspect. SH
Weather Forecast
Light winds ranging from S-SE Friday with more seasonal temperatures staying well below freezing compared to the warm temperatures we have had this past week. Only flurries for Friday and light snow amounts through the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
20-30cm of new snow at treeline from a storm at the start of the week was accompanied by moderate to strong SW to NW winds which formed some wind slabs at higher elevations. This new snow sits on the Nov. 12 crust (1-2cm thick ) which is present on all but high N aspects (not seen above 2400m on N. aspects) . Below this is a well settled snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
Sluffing in steep terrain and some small wind slabs over the Nov. crust noted. We have limited observations from high alpine areas.
Confidence
Due to the quality of field observations on Thursday
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.