Snow levels are low in the valley bottom, while in the alpine things are near average. Early season conditions mean rocks and trees can end your day very badly, so ski/ride conservatively. It's only mid-November!
Weather Forecast
Expect mainly cloudy skies today, with minor flurries, moderate westerly winds at ridge-top, and freezing levels remaining in the valley bottom. Much the same for Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
30-35cm of new snow covers a thin, near-isothermal snowpack. Westerly winds have transported this new snow and formed soft slabs in lee features at tree-line and above. Below 2000m, snow depths are less than 70cm with many early season hazards (rocks and trees) lurking at or just below the surface.
Avalanche Summary
No new observations from Tuesday, but visibility was very poor. One size 2 avalanche (24+ hrs), W aspect, tree-line elevation, observed on McGill Shoulder on Monday. The new snow covered the crown line, but it appeared to dig deep in to the isothermal, early season snow pack.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.