Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
The season is off to a very slow start and with our first new storm its important to note that conditions are extremely marginal for both ice climbing and skiing. There is hope for change as temperatures fall and ice freezes in the gulleys. PJ
Weather Forecast
Snowfall amounts will continue overnight with an additional 5-10 cm of snow throughout the elevation bands. Winds will be moderate from the north and temperatures will steadily drop to below -15.0 overnight. The long range is for precipitation to cease and for unseasonably cold temperatures following the storm
Snowpack Summary
Snowfall amounts with the recent storm have deposited up to 20cm in the higher elevations at treeline and in the alpine. Snowpack depths remains below threshold for avalanches at treeline and below but windslabs could be expected in high alpine areas.
Avalanche Summary
Loose snow avalanches were observed in steep terrain.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
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.