Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
A few cm`s of fresh snow has created some small, isolated wind slabs in alpine areas to watch for. Ski quality is still highly variable but there are pockets of good skiing to be found. Stay warm and take normal avalanche precautions in steep terrain
Weather Forecast
Cold clear weather with light to moderate N winds is forecast for the next couple of days with alpine temperatures dipping down to -25`C overnight on Monday and Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
A few cm's of new snow with light to moderate N winds forming isolated small wind slabs in the alpine and near ridge crests. Below this a 40-60cm slab of stiff snow sits over the weak basal facets and depth hoar. Triggering this would be difficult but it is possible in steep, rocky, shallow snowpack areas, cross-loaded terrain or moraines.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported or observed today.
Problems
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.