Watch for pockets of wind slab in the alpine and at treeline in the immediate lee of terrain features. Wind slab avalanches may entrain loose snow, travel fast, and go further than you might expect.
Weather Forecast
Modified arctic air has drifted down from the north, pushed by light northerly winds and a noticeable absence of a jet stream. Valleys may continue to have low level clouds for the duration of the forecast period. Some thin high cloud may block the sun at times in the alpine, but generally the region should have broken skies for the next few days. There may be some very light precipitation in the form of flurries over the next few days, however at this time the region looks pretty dry until at least Wednesday. The colder arctic air is forecast to stay in the Rockies and further east. The northeast of the Selkirks will probably see the coolest temperatures, but should not be much below -10 in the alpine. Winds are expected to remain light, but should become westerly sometime Saturday afternoon or evening.
Avalanche Summary
Some loose snow sluffing in steep terrain had been reported up to size 1.5. Loose snow in a gully feature caused one skier to be caught in a size 1.5 avalanche. Sluff management is important if you are considering travelling in steep terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Thin new wind slabs have developed at higher elevations over the past few days. Some areas reported fragile new cornice growth that was not well bonded to the old surface. There is now 10-25 cm of new snow sitting on the mix of surface hoar, near surface facets, and sun crust that was left behind after the recent clear and warm weather. The new snow is reported to be loose and unconsolidated except where the wind slabs exist. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.
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.