Weather Forecast
Cold and clear on Sunday. Snow beginning late Sunday night and through Monday with 15 cm possible. Winds are expected to be light during the storm then blow moderate from the NW on Tuesday as they bring back the cold dry air. Cold, clear and dry through the rest of the week.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is shallow, faceted and weak. The Nov. crust can still be found about 30 cm from ground but is faceting into large depth hoar. The upper half of the snowpack has layers of wind slabs.
Avalanche Summary
Small loose dry avalanches were reported in the Maligne Lake area on Friday out of steep rock slab alpine features. No avalanche patrol on Saturday.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday
Problems
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
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.