Conditions are still pretty good, with only 5-10cm falling over the last 24 hours under light winds. Watch for isolated pockets of old wind slab in the alpine, and sluffing of the cold, facetted surface snow in very steep terrain features.
Weather Forecast
A return to colder temperatures tomorrow with lows around -25C and highs of -15C. Light NE winds for the next 2 days and no new snow.
Snowpack Summary
30 to 40 cm of snow has fallen since Feb 2. This has been affected by variable winds, isolated periods of intense solar radiation and most notably, sustained cold temperatures promoting faceting. Down 50 to 75cm, Jan 17 surface hoar produces sudden planar shears in isolated locations treeline an below. A weak basal snowpack exists in shallow areas
Avalanche Summary
Some smaller wind slabs were noted in the Mount Cathedral area, and a skier triggered size 2 was reported by Lake Louise ski hill.
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.
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.