Important to investigate the bond of the new snow arriving Monday and how the strong winds will add to any pre-existing Wind slabs. Extreme winds can deposit snow into lower elevation locations.
Expect the winds to continue to maintain and further develop this problem. Strong to extreme winds and 12cm of snow is forecasted for Monday. Be vigilant for a spotty inconsistent buried surface hoar layer 30cm down, whumpfing, or cracking snow.
Persistent slabs sit over different weak layers depending on elevation & aspect. Above 1950m a buried facet layer down 20-40cm is the primary concern. Below 1950m, a crust-facet combo is down 40-70cm yet appears to be well bridged by layers above.
Parker ridge on Monday will receive approximately 12cm with the bulk of it arriving between 5am and noon, -6C, strong to extreme West winds. Clouds and flurries, -10C, and moderate West winds for Tuesday. Wednesday is sun with flurries, -9 to -4C, light West winds and a 1700m freezing level.
Strong SW winds the last few days are sustaining the Windslab condition particularly in mid to higher elevation ridgetop locations. The snowpack can range from shallow and barely supportive weak facets in low elevations to a more consistent coverage and solid midpack at treeline and above. Buried 30cm deep Surface hoar has been spotty at treeline.
Sunday's Maligne patrol up Fossil ridge did not note anything new. Saturday's Maligne patrol noted few small dry loose avalanches in steep alpine terrain, and one large wind slab, 30-70cm deep in a steep alpine NE aspect. Saturday's Icefields patrol did not observe any new activity. Visibility was excellent on all these patrols.
