Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Incoming storm will raise the alpine danger over the next few days. Expect up to 25cm by Thurs. Strong South wind will accompany the snow.
Weather Forecast
The beginning of light flurries started today. Accumulations of up to 25cm is expected at treeline in the Northern part of the forecast region by Thursday morning. Freezing levels will fall back to 1200m Tues and Wed. Alpine winds will be strong from the S.
Snowpack Summary
An average of 30-50 cm of snow at treeline with up to 100 cm in alpine locations. A crust formed prior to Halloween is down 10-15 cm helping provide support for skiers. This crust disappears on N aspects around 2500m. Previous alpine winds have created pockets of wind slab. On glaciers be wary of the ice-snow interface and check it for instability.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported today.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations on Monday
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.