Check out the forecasters blog on managing the current hazard:http://bit.ly/sF10fT
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Wednesday
Weather Forecast
Tue: Clear skies. Alpine Winds Mod, increasing to Strong in the afternoon, W/SW. 1500m Temp: H: -2, L: -11Wed: A low pressure system tracks S of the int'l border, but should deliver 5 -10 cm's to the So. Rockies throughout the day. Alpine winds Strong West. 1500m Temp: H: -0, L: -15
Avalanche Summary
No avalanche activity reported, but, I suspect there was a fair amount of activity Monday as the snowpack adjusted to it's new load.
Snowpack Summary
Saturday night into Sunday, moisture in the west of the region collided with cold air in the east and resulted in an intense period of heavy snowfall that was very low density. This new snow has likely settled a bit with daytime warming Monday. Now 50-60 cm of recent snow sits on a highly reactive weak layer of crusts, surface hoar and facets. At 1950 metres elevation we have some snow pack test results from Friday that show that the 40 cm slab of snow above the February 8th weak layer is sliding with easy to moderate forces applied and it is propagating widely with either sudden planar or sudden collapse characteristics. The slab is reported to be less consolidated on northerly aspects than it is on southerly aspects. In areas further north, less snow has fallen on this interface--in the northern Elk Valley for instance, only around 15-20 cm lies above this interface. In lower snow areas, avalanche activity will likely lag behind higher snow areas, except for areas which have seen significant wind transport. In general, the mid-pack is quite strong in most locations. However, lingering concern remains for basal facets, particularly in shallower snowpack areas with steep, rocky start zones.
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.