The avalanche season is creeping up on us. A bit of a slow start this year in terms of snow. Be very cautious with early season hazards. Buried obstacles can put an end to a season in a hurry!
Weather Forecast
Overall the temperatures will rise over the next few days. A minor inversion is also forecasted for mid-week. No precip is expected and the winds will remain light at all elevations for the next few days.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches
Snowpack Summary
Snow depths vary through the region. Current valley bottom snow depths are: Burstall Parking 14cm, Highwood Parking 35cm, Aster Lake 48cm. The November rain crust is noticeable, and the suspected failure plane for a few scatted avalanches. The crust is down 10-20cms at treeline elevations. All of the snow above the crust is weak and facetted from the cold temperatures. Surface hoar has been noted in most areas.
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.