10-15cm of new snow with North light to moderate winds are adding to the existing problems particularly the loose dry. Highway 93 will be closed from 11-5 on Wednesday for Avalanche control. Check Alberta 511.
Weather Forecast
Snowfall will taper off Monday night. Tuesday to Thursday will be Light North to Northwest winds gusting Moderate at ridgetop, clear skies, no new snow, and cold temperatures ranging from -18 to -30.
Snowpack Summary
10-15cm of very light snow on Monday overlies a shallow, faceted and weak snowpack. The Nov. crust can still be found about 30 cm up from ground but is faceting into large depth hoar. The upper half of the snowpack has layers of wind slabs.
Avalanche Summary
No patrol today. Sunday's Icefields patrol noted several 48 hour old size 2.5 slab in cross loaded West aspect gullies and size 1.5 loose dry avalanches on all aspects and elevations. Cold temps have made free hanging ice brittle and they are breaking off.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Monday
Problems
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.
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.