Be aware that early season hazards lurk beneath the snow surface.
Weather Forecast
Light snowfalls are expected overnight, with slightly more snow in the Icefields. A second front will follow with increasing amounts of snow expected to arrive on Monday and Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
Variable snow distribution in the alpine ranging from 0 - 220cm. There is consistent coverage around 60cm at treeline.? Two midpack crusts are providing good support. Below treeline, snow depths are? below critical levels to cause an avalanche.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been observed in the last week. Several slab avalanches to size 2.5 occurred approximately 10 days ago, on a glaciated NE lee aspect in the high alpine.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is 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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.