Avoid steep open slopes on lee aspects as a stiffened slab could release above on the deep weak layers. Avoid ice climbs with any large features like ice daggers or steep snow loaded features. Let the snow settle and temps even out for a few days.
Weather Forecast
Snowfall will taper through Friday night bringing clear skies and cold temperatures for the weekend under an arctic air mass. Clouds will begin to develop by Monday, but no real precipitation is expected for the next few days.
Snowpack Summary
An extra 50cm has fallen overnight to add to the 70cm of snow which had fallen in the alpine at the start of the storm. Moderate to strong winds started from the SW at the beginning of the storm are now shifting to the Northerly directions as the arctic air moves in. The storm snow overlies a weak snowpack consisting of rain crusts and facets.
Avalanche Summary
Slab avalanches to size 2.5 were observed at treeline and alpine in the icefields area on Northeast aspects. Loose avalanches to size 2 are occurring at all elevations and aspects. Steep cutbanks and side slopes below treeline are releasing as small slab avalanches.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable on Sunday
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.