Temperatures are about to move into the frigid range for this week.
Weather Forecast
Flurries, cold temperatures, and light NW winds Monday. Tuesday-Thursday will be arctic cold, sunny, and light Northerly winds. No new snow until Friday.
Snowpack Summary
Ridge-top snow transport and cross loading occurring Sunday. 10-20cm new snow drainage dependent adding further load and wind transport. Wind slabs 50+cm on some open features at TL and above. Nov 12 crust is exposed in open Alpine features on the windward side and down 40 to 70cms or more in the lee. Temperature gradient promoting facetting.
Avalanche Summary
Sunday's Icefield's patrol observed several loose dry activity on solar aspects. 2300 to alpine small windslabs 24-48 hrs old. Visibility was in and out.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
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.