Stay on mild terrain and avoid lee aspects and terrain features at treeline. Periodic closures on Hwy 93 in the Icefields area will take place between 1000 hrs and 1500 hrs for up to 2 hours. Please adjust your travel plans accordingly.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Forecast models have reduced the amount of precipitation that is expected on Sunday and for the remainder of the storm. However the freezing level will rise as high as 1800m through the night as the next pulse comes through. This equates to some heavy snow that will deposit around treeline. Expect steady, Strong SW winds in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
Below 2000ms will see an infusion of rain and/or wet snow. With a highly variable snowpack in the region, expect this to overload lingering instabilities like the Dec 20 interface, down 15 to 40cm. Scoured open slopes in the alpine will likely stay scoured as these systems move through. Sheltered areas may see up to 20cm accumulation.
Avalanche Summary
A size 2.5 slab avalanche occurred today in the Parker ridge area by a skier. This happened on a NE aspect at treeline. Below treeline, there were numerous size 0.5 to 1 loose snow avalanches going to ground as a result of the overnight rainfall. Many of these locations had less than 20cm of snow on the slope.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday