Pay attention to wind loading patterns and recent wind slab development. Dry loose activity may increase with solar input.
Wind slabs sit over a variety of surfaces including old wind slabs, temperature crust and sun crust making reactivity variable. Be extra cautious in areas where wind slabs sits over a hard layer.
This problem is specific to steep, wind protected terrain. Expect more dry loose activity in areas where recent snowfall sits over a hard surface.
Friday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine High -11 C. Ridge wind W 10km/h. Alpine temperature inversion.
Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud. Alpine Low -13 C; High -9 C. Ridge wind SW 15km/h. Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday: Isolated flurries. Trace precipitation. Alpine Low -11 C; High -5 C. Ridge wind SW 15 gust 40km/hr. Freezing level 1400m.
10-15cm of recent snow has been redistributed by northerly winds causing reverse loading in many locations with wind slab development in Alpine and exposed terrain at tree line. A weak temperature crust present up to 1900m on all aspects with a sun crust on solar aspects up to 2800m. Basal facets & depth hoar found throughout the forecast area.
A few natural size 1 dry loose avalanches observed and reported through the MIN on the Icefields Parkway Tuesday and Wednesday - most occurring in steep terrain with unsupported features.
