Enjoy the sunny skies and good travel conditions.
Weather Forecast
Up to 10cm of snow is forecasted to fall in the Columbia Icefields area starting Thursday and continuing through to Satruday. Warming temperatures and moderate west winds will accompany the incoming snow.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 15cm of new snow in the forecast region. Under the new snow a variably supportive crust is present on solar aspects up to 2500m. A supportive mid pack consisting of rounded and facetted layers is bridging the weak depth hoar/facet layers that make up the lower snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed or reported today. Limited observations.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.