Steady SW winds building ongoing slab problem; previous reverse loading means problem may exist on all aspects.
Recent snow is available for transport on the Icefields Parkway and Maligne area. Likely isolated areas where new windslab building on existing reactive slabs, northerly aspects.
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 faceting crust down 40-70 is presenting a more stubborn version of a similar problem
Friday: Cloudy with scattered flurries. 5 cm. Temp: High -8 °C. Wind SW: 20 km/h gusting to 50 km/h.
Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Trace. Temp: Low -10 °C, High -7 °C. Wind SW: 20 km/h gusting to 55 km/h.
Sunday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Nil. Temp: Low -11 °C, High -8 °C. Wind SW: 20 km/h.
New snow with previous N and present SW winds building slabs in alpine and tree line lee features. Varied wind effect at all elevations. Snowpack is facetted and complex. Buried surface hoar found in isolated locations; December facet layers down 20-40cm still reactive in tests.
No new avalanches reported from road patrol today. Explosive control Wednesday produced several avalanches up to size 1 dry loose and size 2 wind slab Medicine lake area.
