Loose dry avalanches in steep terrain will be a concern for ice climbers into the weekend.
Weather Forecast
Cloudy conditions through the weekend with scattered flurries. Less than 10cm expected. SW winds light but moderate along ridge crests. Temperatures falling slightly into Saturday then rebounding into the start of next week.
Snowpack Summary
Pockets of wind slab can be found in open or exposed terrain tree line and above. These pockets are sitting on a weak layer of facets. The mid-pack remains supportive but has weakened significantly from previous cold temps. Light snowfall is burying the well developed surface hoar and will become something to watch carefully if blown into slabs.
Avalanche Summary
Reports of small (sz 0.5) loose dry avalanches on steep terrain along the Icefields Parkway today.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday
Problems
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
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.