Great skiing continues during a break in snowfall. Watch for reactive wind slabs in exposed alpine and treeline terrain, and be mindful of deep persistent weak layer when transitioning into areas with a thinner snowpack.
Moderate to strong NW-SW winds have moved recent snow, creating wind slabs in alpine and open treeline terrain. There is also more wind in the forecast on Wednesday, which is keeping the likelihood raised. Watch for these as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
The natural avalanche cycle on this layer has ended, but concern about human-triggered avalanches persists. Be wary of shallow areas, as this has been where the bulk of recent large avalanches have started, going from thin to thick (see avalanche summary).
No new natural avalanche observations were reported on Tuesday.
In the past couple of days, local ski hills triggered several size 2 wind slabs in the alpine using explosives and one 2.5 deep persistent slab in a thin rocky area.
On Sunday, a skier-remote size 2 deep persistent slab was reported in the Lake Louise backcountry (see photo below). Although avalanche activity on the deep persistent layer has slowed, we continue to receive sporadic evidence of its reactivity.
Variable NW-SW winds have created fresh windslabs in alpine and open treeline terrain. In sheltered areas, recent storm snow (20-30 cm) remains preserved.
There is 40-80 cm over the Dec 15 melt-freeze crust (which is present to 1800-2000 m), 80-160 cm over the November facet/crust interfaces, and, in thinner snowpack areas, facets at the base.
Treeline snow depths range from 100-200+ cm.
Expect a mix of sun and clouds on Wednesday, with moderate to strong W/SW ridgetop winds. Tree line temperatures will remain steady near -5°C, and no new precipitation is expected.
Over the next few days, temperatures will remain fairly stable with freezing levels near the valley bottom, and winds will become light from the W/SW, with no significant snow.
