Good skiing can still be found out there but increasing Northerly winds on Monday will lead to a more widespread wind slab problem.
Recent wind has been light but the northerly direction has caused reverse loading near ridge top. Increasing wind speed on Monday will accelerate wind slab development and increase the hazard at tree line.
Monday: A mix of sun & cloud with isolated flurries and trace precipitation. Alpine temp high -8. Wind NW 15km/h gusting to 45. Freezing level valley bottom.
Tuesday: A mix of sun & cloud. No precipitation. Alpine temp hight -17 C. Wind W 10-30 km/h. Freezing level valley bottom
Wed: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine high -87 C. Wind N 10-30 km/h
A weak sun crust forming on solar aspects. 10-30cm of recent snow is settling well and has only been a concern in exposed areas where wind slab development has occurred. A crust down 25-40cm is decomposing but can still be found below 2500m on south aspects. A widespread weak facet layer still lurks at the bottom of the snowpack in all areas.
No new avalanche activity observed on the Icefields Parkway or Maligne Lake Road today.
One natural size 2 cornice avalanche was observed on Thursday on Churchill. This cornice failure entrained loose dry snow below.
