Ski conditions are improving as we get steady light snowfall over the next 2 days.
Weather Forecast
Snow! We expect steady light snowfall over the next couple of days reaching a maximum intensity on Tuesday night and clearing on Wednesday. Total amount from this storm in the 15-20cm range. Temps will remain mild and cool and freezing levels will top out at 1150m. Winds light to moderate from the SW.
Snowpack Summary
Last weeks's warm temperatures and rain followed by cooler temps have produced a widespread crust up to 2400m on all aspects. Higher elevations are characterized by previous wind affected surfaces in exposed areas and wind slabs on lee aspects. 15-20 cm of storm snow is now sitting over this crust and this will increase throughout the storm.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed today by field teams in the Columbia Icefield area and from the lands adjacent to Marmot Basin. Visibility was very poor due to cloudy conditions and snowfall.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
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.
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.