20-30 cm of recent snow with some wind has refreshed ski quality but will take a day or two to settle out.
The danger rating reflects the highest hazard of the day which will be linked to afternoon warming as the sun comes out over the next few days.
Recent snow and winds may have formed isolated wind slabs at upper elevations. Some northerly winds may have loaded southerly slopes more than usual.
Expect the recent storm snow to sluff out of steep terrain with solar warming
A size 2.5 with wide propagation in the storm snow was noted on the west end of Mt Rundle. This was in steep alpine terrain and likely cornice triggered.
Patrollers at both Sunshine and Lake Louise were able to trigger small windslabs / loose dry avalanches in steep alpine terrain. These were generally soft and predictable except at Lake Louise where there were a couple small harder slabs that were less predictably triggered.
Up to 30cm of settling storm snow overlies crusts up to ridgetop on solar aspects and ~2300m on north aspects. Below this, the snowpack is generally well settled.
A ridge is building over the region bringing clear skies, light winds and progressively warming temperatures over the next few days. Expect good freezes overnight with freezing levels rising to ~ 1900m on Friday, ~ 2300m on Saturday and ~ 2600m on Sunday.
