The upper snowpack has undergone significant settlement over the past few days. Be on the lookout for freshly formed wind slabs and avoid overhead cornice exposure.
Strong to extreme SW wind has scoured ridgetop but wind slabs are forming low in start zones. If triggered, wind slabs could step down to the persistent slab.
Cornices have grown dramatically over the past two day and a drop in temperature may make them more reactive.
This problem seems to be most active where the March 19th crust is not supportive over the Feb 3rd weak layer (down 30-90cm) of facets over a crust. Northerly aspects between 1900-2400m seem to be the problem area.
Numerous natural size 1-1.5 wet loose avalanches observed on the Icefields Parkway on Tuesday.
No new avalanche activity on the Icefields Parkway or Maligne Lake Road Today.
5-10cm of new snow overnight on Tuesday arrived with strong to extreme SW wind building winds slabs at treeline and above. A total of 20-40cm of snow now sits over the March 19th crust which is present everywhere except North aspects above 1900m. Solar aspects have multiple crusts within the upper 30 cm. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 30-90cm. Basal depth hoar and facets make up the bottom of the snowpack. HS ranges from 50 to 150cm.
Thursday Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Trace precipitation. Wind east: 15 km/h gusting to 40. Freezing level at valley bottom
Friday Cloudy with sunny periods & isolated flurries. Trace precipitation. Wind light to 15 km/h. Freezing level 2000m
Saturday A mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level 2100m
Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
