The amount of snow we get will determine the hazard rating going forward into the week. The winds are forecast to be moderate to strong in the alpine so if we receive the snow along with the forecast winds, wind slabs will be the main issue.
Weather Forecast
It appears we will be receiving a few centimeters of snow tonight with more localized flurries tomorrow with a few sunny breaks. Winds will be out the west 30km/h. Freezing levels will be at valley bottom (1500 meters)
Avalanche Summary
No avalanche activity to report in the land of K'. However, to the north of us in Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, particularly on the east side of the continental divide, the snowpack has NOT improved significantly and snowpack tests still do not show any reason to be any more confident in the hazard decreasing any time soon. The January 6th facets/surface hoar layer is still showing sudden collapse and sudden planar results in many test pits. The layer is buried anywhere from 50-130 down from the surface.
Snowpack Summary
Some recent light flurries and winds in the alpine are creating soft slabs in the alpine lee zones. The recent snow has likely buried some recently formed temperature and sun crusts (Feb 27th) at treeline along with some small surface hoar 2-3mm up to about treeline (2100 meters) elevations on north aspects - keep this in mind as the week goes forward and more snow piles up on these layers especially if it's accompanied by moderate or stronger winds. The mid and basal snowpack continues to settle and tighten the Feb 11th and Jan 6th layers. The slightly cooler temperatures and cloud cover will have allowed for some recovery of the upper snowpack to strengthen after the very warm temperatures the past few days.
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.