10cm of forecasted snow with light winds keeping the Avalanche Hazard at Moderate. If winds increase before Tuesday the Avalanche Hazard will rise with them. Stay tuned in to changing weather conditions in your area.
Weather Forecast
Snow starting late Sunday night and throughout Monday, up to 15cm. 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 (below - 20). A temperature inversion was observed along the Parkway today, up to 10 degrees warmer at higher elevations.
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
Within the past 48hrs, several Sz 2.5 slab and Sz 1.5 loose dry avalanches observed along the Icefields Parkway. Pockets of slab pulling out in cross loaded gullies, 30-40 degree slopes on Westerly aspects. Loose dry activity on all aspects and elevations.Recent cold temps have made free hanging ice brittle and is breaking off.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems 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.