We are experiencing a all freeze, no melt spring weather pattern but recently formed wind slabs sit over a variety of firm surfaces and may be reactive to human triggers in heavily wind loaded areas or during periods of intense solar exposure.
Recent storm snow arrived warm followed by a cooling trend. Although this weather pattern is likely to promote bonding, new wind slabs sit over a variety of firm surfaces including sun/temperature crusts & may be reactive to human triggers in spots.
Significant cornice growth has been observed in the past 48h. Watch your overhead hazard as cornices may trigger wind slab below resulting large avalanches.
Continued cold temperatures mean that dry loose avalanches will remain likely in steep terrain sheltered from wind and sun.
Spring weather is highly variable so we recommend selecting area specific forecasts at Spot Wx for localized conditions.
At Parkers ridge: Sunday- Cloudy with sunny periods North wind 15-30km/h. Alpine high -9
Monday - Mix of sun and cloud. Wind NE 15-30km/h. Alpine high -16
Tuesday - Cloudy with sunny periods & isolated flurries. 1cm snow. Light wind
5-15cm or recent storm snow has been redistributed by strong NW-SW wind building wind slabs upto 40cm deep in Alpine and exposed or cross loaded features at Tree line. Windslabs sit over a sun crust on solar aspects into the alpine & a melt freeze up to 2300m on polar asp. Expect dry loose avalanches in steep terrain sheltered from wind. Mid pack.
Multiple, natural dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 observed in steep rocky terrain from 2300-3000m on the Icefields Parkway today. Explosives testing on April 8 produced upto size 1.5 loose dry avalanches on Parkers ridge. Significant cornice growth has also been noted in the past 48h but no natural activity has been reported.
