10 cm of snow overnight with light East winds will improved ski quality. Enjoy winter while we still have it!
Weather Forecast
The expected storm has been delayed. 10 cm of snow is expected overnight on Saturday and then another 10 cm on Sunday with light East winds. Temperatures will remain cool. Flurries on Monday with an additional 5 cm possible. A clear warm trend begins on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
Pockets of wind pressed and soft wind slabs near ridgelines on Northerly aspects at alpine and treeline elevations. Suncrust on solar aspects. 5-10 cm over a supportive temperature crust can be found on all aspects tree line and above to 2500m. The weak basal facet layer is bridged by a strong mid-pack in most areas at treeline and above.
Avalanche Summary
Patrols up Maligne and to the Icefields yielded no new avalanche observations.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Sunday
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.