Like lipstick on a Pig, the incoming storm snow will bury early season hazards at lower elevations and build onto the wind slab tree line and above.
Weather Forecast
10-25cm forecasted for the Icefields Parkway Thursday night and into Friday, which will be accompanied by moderate south winds. The weekend will bring scattered flurries, light winds with mainly cloudy skies.
Snowpack Summary
On lee slopes, wind slab sits on top of a 5-10cm thick crust between roughly 2100m and 2600m. These slabs may be touchy in cross-loaded areas within the elevation band where the crust exists. Facets are present on top of the crust and will be the layer to watch with the incoming storm snow.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday
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.