Stormy weather will bring upwards of 50-70cm of snow, strong winds, and lower elevation rain. Bulk of the precipitation will arrive Monday to early Tuesday. Highway 93 is closed currently until avalanche control occurs on Tuesday. Check 511 for updates.
Winds have been in the extreme values. Wind slab development is inevitable. Local terrain influences and changing wind directions may load non-typical locations.
The incoming storm snow, particularly on steep slopes, will lack cohesion and result in loose dry avalanches of significant size and length. Rain in lower elevations could soak the snow resulting in some moist loose avalanches.
Storm amounts could reach 70cm. Expect many slopes to be primed or overloaded resulting in high potential for natural and human triggered activity.
Monday Maligne patrol observed a few small low elevation loose wet avalanches. It was raining. Sunday's Icefield patrol noted similar activity and Alpine locations were obscured. Icefield's road is closed for the incoming storm thus no patrol Monday.
Saturday to Monday morning brought 20cm of new snow plus steady moderate gusting extreme winds loading lee features. This overlies a previous 50 cm of storm snow from Dec 8th which rests on a facet interface. A small crust is located 30cm up from ground.
Monday to Tuesday will be intense snowfall, 50cm of snow, moderate gusting extreme winds, and -1 to -8 °C. Wednesday to Thursday may bring an additional 25cm of snow. Friday's temperatures will plummet to -21 °C.
