The avalanche hazard will spike in the afternoon with warm temperatures and intense solar radiation. The Maligne Road remains closed , avalanche control planned on Saturday afternoon. A late afternoon closure of the Icefields Parkway is possible.
Weather Forecast
The freezing level will approach 1800 m on Saturday afternoon with clear skies. Winds will be light from the SW. On Sunday, temperatures will moderate, skies will cloud over and light flurries are possible.
Snowpack Summary
The recent storm snow appears to be bonding well to previous surfaces. Soft slabs are developing below alpine lee ridge lines with gusty moderate SW winds . At lower elevations, this snow is sitting on a weak and faceted midpack. Snow that is plastered to steep rocky terrain will most likely sluff once exposed to the sun for prolonged periods.
Avalanche Summary
Temperatures today remained below freezing, however, several size 1-2 wet snow avalanches were observed on steep south facing slopes below treeline due to intense solar radiation. On Saturday, temperatures will approach double digits with high solar radiation, this will result in a High avalanche danger.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Saturday
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
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.