If new snow exceeds 20cm from Saturday to Sunday, expect avalanche activity and sensitivity to increase into the considerable range until it has had time to settle.
Human triggered windslabs in steep alpine terrain were reported Thursday (20th). Even though these are thin they are large enough to have serious consequence in steep terrain. Some North aspects feel like they could have recently developed windslabs as well.
If Saturday to Sunday's snowfall meets or exceeds 20cm, expect some loose dry avalanche activity on steep gullies or high alpine slopes. This is dependent on snow amounts.
Saturday's field team had very poor visibility and no avalanches were noted nor whoomphing or cracking. Friday at noon a size 1.5 occurred on the very bottom the steep rocky slab of Parkers slabs just south of Parkers summer trail. It did not travel very far. Nov 20th observed a few size 1 human triggered wind slab avalanches in steep alpine morainal terrain.
Saturday to Sunday's forecasted 10-20cm of new snow will freshen up the top. Travel remains supportive in Parkers area yet overall, snowpack is highly variable across the region. Parkers manual weather station near Parkers ridge, is a protected treeline location, registers 96cm height of snow. A 2cm thick crust can be found up to an elevation of 2200m. Maligne has much less snow overall.
Post your observations to the MIN!
The Icefield's weather forecast is for 13cm new snow, -4 °C, and light to moderate Southwest winds. Sunday will be cloudy, flurries, 4cm of snow, -4 °C, and light West winds. Monday to Wednesday are expected to be sun, cloud, flurries, -15 °C and light winds.
