Solar influence, overhead cornice failure or isolated loading or cross-loading will affect the localized hazard as we approach spring like conditions. Generally, the hazard should remain Moderate and the riding is being reported as good.
Weather Forecast
Expecting broken skies conditions on Sunday with light winds and freezing level to 2200 m. Expecting to see light snow/rain beginning by late afternoon.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is generally shallow and poorly consolidated, significant variation exists within the forecasting area. The persistent slab may still be active in the Portal Creek area. This layer could be trigger from thin spots on the slope (trees, rocks, etc). Alpine wind slab is present on lee slopes. Springlike conditions below tree-line.
Avalanche Summary
Significant large avalanches reported for field teams in the Icefields area. Appear that the most significant of which have been triggered by cornice failure up to sz 3.5 in the Alpine.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.