The alpine hazard will slowly increase as new snow arrives. Watch for wind loading, and the bond with buried sun crusts. Lower elevation hazard will fluctuate with the temperatures, rising during the day and lowering overnight.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Saturdays forecast is for 5-10 cm of snow along the divide with snow fall amounts easing off by mid day, and moderate SW winds in the alpine. Freezing levels are forecast to stay below 2000m though some rain showers may occur at lower elevations. An additional 5-10 cm is forecast for Sunday night along the divide.
Snowpack Summary
5-8 cm of new snow on Friday with wind effect in the alpine from Mod SW winds and thin wind slabs in lee areas. The March 15 sun crust is down 25-50 cm on solar aspects in the alpine and still a concern in some locations. Various temperature crusts and/or moist snow can be found on solar aspects in the alpine and on all aspects below 2000m.
Avalanche Summary
Some thin touchy skier controlled wind slabs were reported on Friday from the local ski hills up to size 1, with propagations of up to 50 m wide on solar aspects. No new natural avalanches were observed on a flight to the Wapta Icefields Friday morning.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday