Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Our information is limited but watch for isolated pockets of wind slab in the alpine. Skiing is possible above 2100m due to a buried crust down 10-15 cm that helps carry the weight of skiers, but hitting rocks or stumps is still a real concern.
Weather Forecast
A Northern flow continues to keep cold arctic air in our region for the next few days. Expect some high overcast and possible flurries on Tuesday evening but otherwise generally clear skies. No significant snow accumulations are expected through the end of the week.
Snowpack Summary
An average of 30-50 cm of snow at treeline with up to 100 cm in alpine locations. A crust formed prior to Halloween is down 10-15 cm helping provide support for skiers. This crust disappears on N aspects around 2500m. Moderate alpine winds have created pockets of wind slab. On glaciers be wary of the ice-snow interface and check it for instability.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity has been observed or reported. Some small wind triggered sluffs were observed in steep gullies on Sunday with the potential to run quite far due to the presence of the Halloween crust.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
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.