The windslab is highly variable, pay attention to changes in the slab & terrain. Reassess often.
Weather Forecast
Today will be sunny with cloudy periods with no new snow. Winds will be SE at 10kph with a daytime high of -13*C. Expect much colder temps in the shade(north facing terrain & valley bottoms) or anywhere the wind is blowing. Friday a low pressure system will start to move over the province bringing warmer temps & up to 60cm of snow by Monday morning
Snowpack Summary
Previous strong Southerly winds have caused extensive wind effect in the alpine. Conditions are highly variable from wind scoured, wind slabs, hard slabs and deep wind drifts. Surface hoar to size 3 was found in profiles Tuesday underneath the wind effected snow. At treeline and in very sheltered alpine locations the snow surface is undisturbed.
Avalanche Summary
There was a natural avalanche cycle earlier in the week associated with the strong winds and 10cm of new snow. Numerous avalanches from size 2 -3 were observed to run into their runouts. In the backcountry there was reports of both natural and human triggered windslabs. A cornice triggered avalanche was also observed Tuesday below Avalanche pk
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.