Cold temperatures have led to limited field observation. If you are going out in the cold - go forth cautiously.
Watch out for "facetlanches" on steep rocky terrain as the cold weather rots the snowpack. The weak nature of our snowpack makes it possible for these avalanches to gouge deeper in the snowpack and gain mass.
This problem includes our prominent facet surface hoar layer down 30-40cm. The lower snow pack is weak and faceted due to consistent cold temperatures. Any avalanches initiating in the mid or upper snowpack will likely step down to the "deep" layer on or near the ground.
Below tree line hazard is rated low but caution is advised in isolated steep open slopes where wind affected stiffer snow may be present on top of the weak layers described above.
A few loose dry avalanches noted December 19 on the Icefields parkway up to size 1.5 - mostly on solar aspects.
Continued cold weather is forming surface facets and generally weakening the snowpack. A persistent weak layer is down 25-35cm specific to tree line and below in sheltered areas. The bottom of the snowpack is weak consisting of basal facets with pockets of depth hoar. The snowpack height ranges from 40-100cm. Snowpack is unsupportive tree line and below.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -22 °C.
Light ridge wind.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Friday
Mainly cloudy.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -22 °C, High -13 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Alpine temperature inversion.
Saturday
Cloudy with sunny periods.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -15 °C, High -8 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Alpine temperature inversion.
