Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Light winds, no snow, and slightly lower temperatures will not change the hazard rating over the next day or two.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures are forecasted to lower slightly over the next few days, but remain at or slightly above seasonal norms. Winds will be light from the W/NW. Snowfall amounts may be trace along the Divide, with patchy cloud further to the east.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs of varying thickness have been developing due to moderate / strong winds. With the moderate temperatures, these wind slabs are settling over top of a well settled mid pack and the Nov 6 rain crust.
Avalanche Summary
No new observations reported.
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.