Monitor the winds and snow amounts Tuesday evening. If they exceed expectations, it has potential to tip the scales increasing the danger with direct action avalanches. Models are not agreeing thus the uncertainty for Wednesday.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday will be cloudy and potentially moderate to strong winds starting in a.m. with a pulse of snow beginning at noon into Wednesday. Models range from 10-30cm for Icefields, 8-12 for Marmot, and 4-8 for Maligne. Some of this may start as rain. Tuesday's freezing level will hover around 2000m then drop to 1500-1700m with a cooling trend Wed.
Snowpack Summary
SW winds forming windslab along alpine ridge tops. A temperature crust is found on lower elevation slopes and southerly slopes into the alpine. Windslab developing on this slippery surface should be assessed. Weak basal facets appears to be bridged, requires a large trigger, or a tickle in just the right spot, and would be a large avalanche.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches reported today.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Tuesday
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.