Up to 30cm of new snow is expected over the next 36hrs with strong W and NW winds. This new snow will likely overload the basal facets and cause a natural avalanche cycle. Avalanches may involve the entire winters snowpack.
Summary
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday
Weather Forecast
An approaching cold front is expected to cross the region over the next few days giving us 20-30cm of new snow. This new snow is expected to come in with some strong west and north west winds so be prepared for new storm slabs to build and develop quickly during the storm. This may be enough snow to overload the weak basal facets and cause a natural avalanche cycle with avalanches involving the entire winters snowpack occurring.
Avalanche Summary
A few new sz 2 avalanches were observed on a NE aspect on Tent ridge. Both slides occurred around 2400m and failed at ground and on the october crust near the base of the snowpack.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack generally unsupportive in untravelled terrain below 2000m. Above this snowpack becomes more supportive and travel is easier. In open areas expect to encounter windslabs overlying the previous midpack and generally 30-50cm of facets and depth hoar at the base of the snowpack. CTM(sudden collapse) results were being encountered at the interface of the midpack to the facets and depth hoar down 50-70cm depending upon location. The concern now is for low probability high consequence avalanches that have the chance of occurring from this snowpack areas. Any avalanche that initiates is likely to involve most or all of the winters snowpack.
mike.koppang,
Alberta Parks
