Cloudy conditions will minimize the re-freeze at lower elevations overnight on Thursday. If rain falls at lower elevations, avalanche danger may rise to HIGH. When the sun does come out stability decreases quickly so be heads up out there.
Weather Forecast
We may see up to 14cm of new snow overnight. This new precipitation may fall as rain at lower elevations and snow at higher elevations. Freezing level is forecast to be around 2200m. Watch the bond of the new snow to the underlying crust as there may be some fast sluffing in many areas if the snow does arrive.
Avalanche Summary
One Natural cornice collapse was observed in the miners peak area (Bow Valley). No slab release was initiated below.
Snowpack Summary
No new snow over the past 24hrs. Winds were generally light but occasional gusts into the moderate range. Crusts can be found pretty much everywhere except pure north aspects in Alpine terrain. Crusts break down QUICKLY when the sun comes out.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
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.