Size 1.5 avalanche was seen today on the right side of the weeping wall ice climb. There is still lots of storm snow lingering above ice climbs.Skiers should consider windslabs developed near ridgetops on Easterly aspects from the recent NW winds.
Weather Forecast
Moderate to strong NW winds are redistributing the storm snow onto more Easterly aspects that may not have been previously loaded. Light snow flurries will occur through to Wednesday. Gradual warming is expected through to the end of next week.
Snowpack Summary
Total snowfall amount for this storm is 115cm and that tapers off south of Parkers Ridge. There appears to be a mid-pack weakness; likely facets, that is the most active. The entire year's snowpack is sitting over a weak base of rain crust and facets. Additional snow loading will occur on Easterly aspects from the NW winds.
Avalanche Summary
The colder temperatures appear to have locked the snowpack down. However during the storm, an extensive avalanche cycle occurred throughout the forecast area from Maligne south to Mt Wilson up to size 3.5. Avalanche control on Highway 93 north got limited results up to sz 2.5 with numerous sympathetic releases and buried the road at two locations.
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.