Another moisture laden weather system is heading our way, bringing as much as 50cm to the Icefields Area. This new snow, along with strong SW winds and warm temps will increase the avalanche danger significantly.
Weather Forecast
Lots of precipitation forecast for the next 72hours, with models indicating as much as 50cm in the Columbia Icefield Area. This along with strong SW winds, warm temps and rising freezing levels will elevate the avalanche danger significantly.
Snowpack Summary
New windslabs are forming above treeline with the large amount of snow available for transport and gusty winds. Solar aspects have a suncrust and are being covered by the snow that is presently falling. These slabs and crusts will be subject to significant load over the next 72hours which will increase their likelihood of triggering.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed on a road patrol to the Columbia Icefield area, but visibility was poor.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.
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.