Recent wind slab and cornice activity noted up to size 2. Rising freezing level and incoming precipitation will increase the hazard Thursday and Friday. Expect road closures on Hwy 93 and Maligne Road on Friday - 511 for updates.
Strong SW winds created fresh wind slabs. These new wind slabs sit over a variety of firm surfaces including wind effected snow and sun/temperature crusts.
Fresh cornices are proving to be reactive with strong solar input and recent growth.
Main concern during the heat of the day with strong solar input.
Thursday - mix of sun and cloud with freezing level rising to 2200m; winds light to moderate SW. Expecting little recovery overnight with freezing level falling to 1500m then back to 2200m on Friday. Friday will see flurries with mixed precip and rain possible at lower elevations up to 12mm. Mix of sun and cloud and a cooling into the weekend.
Moderate to strong SW winds have redistributed recent snow (up to 15cm Icefields area) into lee features in the alpine and down into treeline. The freezing level is forecast to reach 2200m Thursday with little to no recovery. There is a sun crust high into the alpine on solar aspects and and melt freeze crust up to 2200m. Midpack is well settled.
One size 1.5 windslab observed on Indian ridge NE aspect alpine; 2 size 2 cornice failures that triggered wind slab below 30-50cm deep E aspect alpine K2 feature at the icefields.
