Daily light snow accumulations could be developing soft slabs on high elevation climbing routes on the Western edge of the forecast area. Examples of these areas are the Columbia Icefields as well as the Fryatt and the Tonquin.
Weather Forecast
Expect to see only light snow flurries combined with sunny periods through to Saturday. Sunday will be increasing clouds with more intense snowfalls Sunday night and through Monday. Temperatures will remain season in the -4 to - 8 C range. Winds remain light from the West at lower elevations.
Snowpack Summary
Most areas above treeline and in the alpine have been wind blasted. Hard slabs are widespread, and provide a strong bridge over any underlying weakness. Below treeline, the snowpack is facetted throughout but no slab overlies this weakness.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed along Highway 93 and Maligne lake road.
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.