The storm snow is starting to settle but bonding with the rain crust it its sitting on is uncertain. Stick to low angle terrain until this can be tested.
Weather Forecast
Light flurries with light winds and seasonal temperatures for Tuesday and Wednesday. Warm temperatures expected on Thursday extending into the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Huge variation in the snowpack across the forecast region!! The Icefields Area received around 1 meter of snow since Friday while areas to the north received much less. Sensitive storm slab sitting of Jan 29 rain crust on all aspects at treeline and above. Trace to 5 cm new snow sitting on rain crust below treeline in most areas.
Avalanche Summary
Minor sluffing of loose dry snow out of steep terrain. No new observations.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain 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.
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.