Monitor recent snowfall amounts carefully, as there is variation throughout the region. 5-45 cm of new snow fell with strong SW winds as a cold front passed through Monday. Moderate terrain choices with limited overhead hazard are recommended until the storm snow settles and bonds.
Areas with 15+ cm of fresh snow will have a storm slab problem. The new snow may fail naturally and will be reactive to human triggering especially over buried sun crusts. Lee areas with newly formed wind slabs and fresh cornices are also a concern.
The weak basal facets, as well as mid-pack facets and crusts, remain a significant concern. Many large avalanches on these layers during a recent avalanche cycle indicate that this problem will continue to be a concern until the end of the season.
On Monday, areas around Yoho and Lake Louise got 30-45 cm of new snow and saw natural avalanche activity out of steep terrain up to size 3 in the storm snow. On Tuesday, Lake Louise patrol reported explosive triggered avalanches to size 1.5, 25-30 cm deep, involving the storm snow.
Other areas of the forecast area got significantly less snow and only saw a few small wind slabs in steep lee-loaded terrain in the alpine.
There is 5-30cm of settled snow from Monday's storm that was accompanied by strong SW winds. The greatest amounts were received in the Lake Louise area. The storm snow sits over buried sun crusts that are present to ridge crests and faceted layers on shady aspects. Multiple buried crusts are present in the top 50-70 cm on solar aspects. The basal depth hoar is present at the bottom of the snowpack and remains facetted and weak.
Lower elevations have a temperature crust on all aspects.
5-10 cm expected Tuesday night, with the greater amounts between Banff and Highwood Pass.
Another 5-10 cm is expected on Wednesday. Amounts are variable given the convective nature of the snowfall, where some locations may receive greater than 10 cm.
Winds should remain light Tuesday night and Wednesday.
