Strong winds and new snow sure to obscure visibility to hazards above. Choose your terrain and exposure time wisely.
Weather Forecast
A new storm is tracking in from the coast and is expected overnight bringing moderate to strong SW-ly winds. A further 10cm is expected overnight Monday and as much as a 30cm possible by the end of the day Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
Snow depths are variable between 70 to 140 cm observed in the Icefields. Generally unsupportive below treeline and improving at you approach TL and above. Moderate to strong ridge top winds have created soft slabs on top of a weak snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
Field observations have found a very extensive storm cycle on all aspects between 2200 to 3200m ranging from size 2 to 3 running on ground to mid-path. Most recently, 3 significant events on Mt Amery area (just north of Sask River crossing) observed in last 24 hours, sz 3 and sz 2.5's on NE-ly aspects in cross loaded features running on ground.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday
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.
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.