Cooler temperatures will help to stabilize treeline and below treeline conditions on Thursday.
Weather Forecast
Light flurries will continue on Thursday with little in the way of accumulation expected. Moderate to strong SW winds will continue slab development below ridgelines. Temperatures will be cooler. More snow, possibly heavy at times, may fall on Friday.
Snowpack Summary
Despite rain and above freezing temperatures, the melt freeze crust remained intact at treeline. This crust provides stability above a wet and unconsolidated snowpack. Stiff windslabs have formed on a smooth temperature crust below ridgelines on north to north east facing slopes treeline and in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity observed in the Maligne or Icefields areas.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday
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.