By midday it feels like spring in the alpine. Use caution near or below steep rock features on solar aspects.Best snow quality found in sheltered areas on shaded aspects.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure continues to dominate the region with no snow in the immediate future. A temperature inversion (-13 valley bottom, +5 alpine) keeps valley bottoms in a deep freeze while warm temps and sun bring spring like conditions to solar aspects in the alpine. Expect light winds from the southwest... It might snow on Friday...
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is well settled and the Nov 23 (dwn ~90cm) and Nov 26 (dwn ~65cm) crusts are bonding well. Surface hoar is growing below 2200m and the upper snowpack is beginning to facet. The alpine has seen above freezing temps for the last several days and a thin crust can be found on solar aspects. Isolated pockets of windslab in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous loose avalanches up to size 2 were observed on steep solar aspects, especially near rocky outcrops in the last few days. These avalanches have been triggered by warm alpine temps and strong solar heating.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
mark herbison,
Parks Canada
