Today is the last day of the deep freeze. Warmer temperatures and heavy snowfall are on the way. Avalanche hazard will rise!
Weather Forecast
Today is the last day the arctic high will dominate our weather. Today expect an alpine high of -21, 15kph Northerly winds and sunny skies. The high pressure will start breaking down Saturday as a series of deepening troughs move over the province bringing milder temperatures and up to 40cm of new snow by Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
Moderate northerly winds over the last 48 hrs have blown recent new snow into thin variable surface slabs in the lee of ridges and alpine features. This new windslab buries previous hard wind slabs formed during the cold Arctic outbreak. In sheltered spots the top 20cm of the snowpack is mostly facetted and still unsettled due to very cold temps.
Avalanche Summary
There has been very little natural activity in the park over the last few days. Yesterday two parties had accidentally triggered fresh windslabs up to 20 cm deep in unsupported aggressive terrain. The forecasted new snow for the weekend will be a significant load on the weak snowpack, widespread avalanche activity is expected.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
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.
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.