The more snow we receive Sunday, the more the hazard will increase. Ice climbers watch for loose dry avalanches.
Alpine observations above 2500m are limited for this region, as a result, there remains uncertainty on the potential for triggering deeper instabilities in thin snowpack areas.
Expect to find wind slabs in alpine lee terrain, possibly down into treeline. These slabs generally overlie faceted snow and/ or a crust. As strong southwest winds continue through Sunday, expect incoming snow amounts of 5-15cm and mild temperatures to contribute to slab development.
Strong to extreme winds are causing wind loading and spind drift avalanches in steep terrain. Ice climbers should be particularly attentive to this problem and avoid lee aspects with overhead hazards.
Numerous dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 out of steep terrain have been reported over the last 24 hours from the Lake Louise and Field areas.
A group in Surprise Pass reported a size 1 wind slab at tree line.
No other avalanches were reported.
Recent strong winds and new snow have resulted in widespread wind effect at ridgetop and below, creating windslab on lee aspects. In sheltered areas, 15-35 cm of predominantly new and old facetted snow overlies the Feb 3 crust on all but N aspects above 2500m. In shallower snowpack areas, weak facet layers can be found in the mid and lower snowpack. Thin snowpack values overall this year in this sub region with around 130 cm at 2000m.
Tonight: Periods of snow and local blowing snow. Amount 5 to 10 cm. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50. Temperature steady near minus 1. Wind chill near minus 8.
Sunday: Snow and local blowing snow. Amount 10 cm. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50. Temperature steady near zero. Wind chill minus 8 in the morning.
Temperatures will cool and winds will abate Monday.
For more information see AvCan's Mt Wx
