The Maligne Road should reopen by early Sunday afternoon. Skiing will be good in sheltered areas.
Weather Forecast
Some light flurries (rain showers in valley bottoms) possible on Sunday as a frontal systems moves through. Westerly winds will increase to strong and temperatures will be a little cooler than Saturday. Another pulse of snow is forecasted as early as Monday night.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs are developing below alpine lee ridge lines with gusty moderate West winds. In sheltered areas, the recent storm snow has settled and bonded well. Expect a suncrust on southerly treeline aspects and widespread suncrust over the recent storm snow at lower elevations.
Avalanche Summary
Heli bombing had good results on the settled pockets of storm slabs above the Maligne Road on the Medicine Slabs. No other activity was noted or reported but expect that a few small solar initiated slides occurred on steep south facing slopes below treeline on Saturday.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Tuesday
Problems
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.
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 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.