Forecasted snowfall amounts are not certain. The overall hazard will increase over the day if the storm intensifies. Be particularly wary of your overhead hazard during periods of heavy loading.
Weather Forecast
Forecasted overnight snowfall expected to be around 15cms in the icefields area with light southerly winds. Expectations are high but it is not likely to initially overload the snowpack, yet. The snowfall will continue though the week and the hazard will increase at all elevations as volume increases.
Snowpack Summary
The ~40 cm of snow received last week has settled with minor wind effect in most areas. This has blanketed previous surfaces including sun crusts on solar aspects, wind slab below ridge lines and cross-loaded gulley features. The Feb10th drought layer is 50-100 cm deep and is the greatest concern for skier/climber triggering.
Avalanche Summary
One sz 2 cornice triggered avalanche on a steep east facing rock slab alpine feature observed today in the Winston Churchill region.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.
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.