As the sun comes out today expect the recent new snow to become reactive on solar aspects and the surface crust to break down.
Weather Forecast
Today will be a mostly sunny day with a chance of intermittent clouds and minimal snowfall. Freezing level will reach 1800m and ridgetop winds will remain light. On Sunday through Monday we may see a more unsettled weather as a warm front associated with an Alberta low pressure system may bring snow from the east.
Snowpack Summary
5-10cm of recent moist snow has now frozen into a breakable crust below treeline. Above treeline this new snow remains dry and unconsolidated burying a previous melt freeze crust that extends up to 2300m on all aspects and to mountain top of solar aspects. Cold dry snow may be found on high northerly aspects.
Avalanche Summary
Cloudy skies and cooler temperatures yesterday limited natural avalanche activity. However one low elevation glide crack released on the west end of the park, resulting in a size 2 wet slab. Previously we've seen numerous loose wet avalanches on solar aspects. As slopes get the full effect of the sun expect natural avalanche activity to pick up.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Problems
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.