Cornices are large throughout the forecast area. Avoid slopes that could expose you to cornice failure.
Weather Forecast
Light snow flurries overnight in the icefields area with some rain in the valley bottoms near the townsite. Temps will be cooler on Saturday with a mix of sun and clouds. The freezing level with rise only to 1500m during the day with only light NW winds. Warmer temperatures and sunny spring weather is expected to start Monday afternoon.
Snowpack Summary
Strong Southwesterly winds have created pockets of windslab and scoured any exposed areas at upper elevations. Weak basal facets are bridged by a strong mid-pack in most areas at treeline and above.
Avalanche Summary
Natural cornice failures continue and many more are waiting their turn to fall.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday
Problems
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.
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.