New forecasted snow and strong SW winds will continue to build on the existing windslab hazard. Expect poor visibility and drifting which will make any overhead hazard hard to assess. Avoid any exposure during periods of intense loading on Saturday.
New snow and moderate to strong SW winds building new windslab in lee and crossloaded features. Watch for hollow sounds and cracking. Consider testing smaller slopes before committing to larger features; windslabs could initiate deep layers.
Triggering this layer would be a high consequence event - cautious decisions and thorough investigation is necessary. More likely to trigger this layer in transitions from thin snowpack to deeper loaded pockets or terrain features.
Overnight: Flurries. up to 10 cm. Temp: Low -14 C. Ridge wind SW: 25-40 km/h.
Saturday: Periods of snow. up to 15 cm. Temp: High -7 C. Ridge wind SW: 25 km/h gusting to 70 km/h.
Sunday: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. Total storm accumulation: 25cm. Alpine temp: Low -15 C, High -11 C. Ridge wind SW: 15 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.
Incremental amounts of new snow being redistributed by moderate SW winds; exposed alpine features continue to be scoured. In sheltered areas 20-30cm settled snow sits atop a supportive midpack. Soft slab forming in open areas. Our basal crust/facet/depth hoar combo near the ground remains a layer of concern. Snowpack depth 100-140cm Icefields area.
No new avalanches reported by forecasting team in the Icefields today.
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