The stormy weather will continue on Monday. The avalanche danger will be highest on windloaded alpine slopes.
Weather Forecast
Another low will move through Sunday night bring more snow and moderate to strong Westerlies, leaving cool unstable air in its wake. A slow warming trend is expected to begin by mid-week, could it finally be spring?
Snowpack Summary
25-30 cm of moist storm snow is sitting on an isothermal snowpack at treeline. Storm slabs 30-50 cm thick are on sitting on the April 25th melt freeze crust in the alpine. Isothermal conditions below treeline that may have a weak melt freeze crust develop overnight.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches observed on a patrol from Jasper to Saskatchewan Crossing with fair visibility
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.