Allow the storm snow to settle and bond for a few days.
Weather Forecast
10-25cm is expected tonight with warm temperatures and potentially rain at lower elevations. Winds will be moderate to strong SW then taper off after the storm. Freezing levels will be around 2000m during the storm then drop Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
30cm of snow since the 5th and another 10-25cm arriving tonight coming in warm. It appears to be bonding well to a previous breakable sun crust on steep solar aspects. The Dec3 surface hoar can be found in isolated sheltered locations at treeline. The snowpack is shallow and faceted below treeline, more supportive above 1900m.
Avalanche Summary
The Icefields was described as driving through pea soup thus visibility was poor. Expect some natural activity in the alpine with this storms input.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Wednesday
Problems
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 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.