If temperatures rise higher than predicted on Thursday, the avalanche danger will increase on all aspects and elevations. Powder conditions still exist on northerly aspects but not for long!
Weather Forecast
Day time temperatures will progressively rise to the mid-twenties by Sunday. Overnight temperatures will break the freezing mark by Saturday. Winds will ease and the sun will shine. Finally!!
Snowpack Summary
40cm of snow has fallen in the Icefields area since Saturday. This has formed pockets of windslab at and above treeline. Bonding of this slab on Southerly slopes should be considered suspect. Below the new snow a thick melt freeze crust layers cap isothermal snow below. Sun crusts extend high into the alpine on South facing slopes.
Avalanche Summary
No reports of avalanches today.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable on Thursday
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.