Another clear and sunny day is ahead. Although the radiant air temp is expected to be cool, expect South/West slopes to heat up and try to steer clear by mid-afternoon. Unfortunately, deep persistent slabs are still a possibility.
Three persistent weak layers formed in January are down 40-110 cm. Buried sun crusts on steep solar slopes present the greatest concern for triggering, however, weak facets and isolated surface hoar can be found on the same interfaces on shaded aspects.
Clear skies and sunshine will produce wet avalanches on sun-exposed slopes late in the day. Rocky areas often increase this heating and low elevations may also be susceptible to this problem on Wednesday.
The weak depth hoar at the bottom of the snowpack inspires little confidence. Multiple parties have remotely triggered large slabs from thin areas in the snowpack. Give careful consideration to the slopes overhead as large avalanches may run well into the runout zone or into lower-angle terrain. Avoid big terrain features and be especially cautious in thin or rocky areas, where triggering is more likely.
Sunshine patrol reported observing 2 size 2.5 deep slabs in the surrounding backcountry. One on Fatigue Mountain and one near Mt. Ball. Both occurred within the last 24 hours. Lake Louise patrol reported triggering two old hard wind slabs size 1.5 in the White Horn gullies with explosives. No other avalanches were observed or reported.
Little change. Above 1600 m the surface is 10-20 cm of soft, settled snow with minimal wind effect. Suncrusts are forming on steep solar slopes and are more widespread below 1400 m. The middle of the snowpack holds several crust layers that continue to produce avalanches, and the base of the snowpack is very weak depth hoar in almost all areas.
On Wednesday, alpine temperatures will remain cool with highs at about -6. The valley, however, could climb to 5 degrees. Freezing levels up to 2000m. Skies are expected to be clear, so expect solar radiation to be a factor on South and West aspects late in the day. The wind could come up to the moderate range from the West.
