Stable forecast for the next few days but caution if the sun shows on solar aspects.
Weather Forecast
Snow flurries expected into Wednesday with up to 10 cm to arrive for Friday and more through the weekend. A system will move through the forecast area bringing strong SW winds at the mountaintops (3000 m elevation) on Thursday moving any snow onto the lee aspects in Saskatchewan.
Snowpack Summary
The Dec 20 facet/surface hoar layer that was proving very sensitive appears to be bonding well to the crust below. Warming trend through Wednesday is still expected and should further settle the snowpack. The snowpack is still highly variable throughout the region ranging from rotten facetted areas to a good, well settled snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported. Overcast skies will prevent the solar effect that was originally expected for the area in the alpine.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable on Wednesday
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.