Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Ski quality is improving at Treeline and above but cooler temps and more snow at lower elevations will be needed to heal the damage from the warm weather as of late. Watch out for cornices and for wind slabs in isolated locations at ridge top. PJ
Weather Forecast
Precipitation associated with a warm front will spread into the southern Rockies today. Up-slope style precipitation will continue tonight and through most of Monday before the Front weakens on Monday evening and moves into Alberta.
Snowpack Summary
5-15cm's of new snow appears to the bonding well to a variety of old surfaces. The snowpack below the elevation of the 1900 meters has absorbed some liquid water from the yesterday's storm and in the lower BTL elevations the snowpack will be rain soaked and isothermal below any crusts that may have developed with the cooler temps last night.
Avalanche Summary
Some small wind slabs reacting to ski cuts and explosives but nothing larger than size 1.5.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday
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.