Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Conditions are quite good for this time of year - ice climbs are in and the ski coverage is not too bad (but thin). Ice climbers should watch out for small avalanches in gully areas above treeline. There is debris in some of the gullies already.
Weather Forecast
A strong SW flow across BC is dissipating over the Continental Divide but could see up to 10 cm in the area by Thursday with temperatures remaining moderate (-5 to -10) range. The weekend looks dry.
Snowpack Summary
The alpine snowpack ranges from 50-80 cm across the region. The surface snow is wind effected with soft snow only in sheltered areas. 25 cm of snow overlies a temperature crust formed on Halloween. The snowpack is generally quite strong for the early season, but is becoming weaker from facetting and the next storm will produce avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
The ski resorts are reporting numerous wind slabs in the alpine - average depths are 20-30 cm by 20 meters wide. Small, but enough to knock you off your feet in a precarious spot.
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.