Watch for early season hazards just below the snow surface, with ongoing cold temperatures even a minor injury could result in serious consequences.
Weather Forecast
The arctic ridge persists through Thursday, giving clear skies, calm winds and cold temps (Lows of -30, Highs of -25). On Friday a low pressure system moving inland from the coast will give flurries and snow showers through Saturday (total accumulations of 5-10 cm). Temperatures remain cold with overnight lows of -24 and daytime highs of -20.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20cm of low density snow is covering a well settled early season snowpack (watch for buried windslabs near ridges). The snowpack above 2000m is over 100cm deep near in the divide, but much shallower at lower elevations and in Eastern areas. A mid November crust down 40-90cm was well bonded in areas observed to date but warrants evaluation.
Avalanche Summary
No recent activity observed.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
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.