Monitor the degree of overnight freezing and severity of daytime heating. A significantly long period of warm temperatures in combination with solar energy can increase the potential for human and natural avalanches particularly on South aspects.
Weather Forecast
Monday will be some clouds, moderate SW ridgetop winds, and warmer. Freezing levels will be 2000m and slightly higher at Marmot and Maligne. Temperatures should remain in the single plus digits unless the sun is present. Next few days will be cloudy, light dusting of snow with hopefully 10cm Tuesday evening. Temperatures cooling trend Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
SW winds forming windslab along alpine ridge tops. A temperature crust is found on lower elevation slopes and southerly slopes into the alpine. Windslab developing on this slippery surface should be assessed. Weak basal facets appears to be bridged, requires a large trigger, or a tickle in just the right spot, and would be a large avalanche.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches reported today. Size 2.5 to ground noted yesterday in Icefields area.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain on Monday
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.