The alpine may start the day at lower hazard, but conditions will likely deteriorate with daytime warming. Even intermittent sun can pack a punch when it breaks through.
As we transition into spring low down, take a moment to read about spring conditions ratings.
Keep an eye above - fragile cornices are primed to trigger slabs below.
Cornices are large and fragile right now. Recent cornice failures have also been large enough to trigger slabs below. Keep an eye on your overhead hazards.
A persistent weak layer of facets is down 80–120 cm and may still be triggerable by humans in shallow areas, and by large loads like collapsing cornices or wet loose avalanches.
Temperatures are trending cooler this week, but the sun remains powerful when it does break through. Small, seemingly benign snowballs can quickly gain mass.
The fluctuating temperatures and higher daytime freezing levels are continuing to produce small wet loose avalanches.
Cornices are ripe and fragile. Field teams on Saturday along the Icefields and the Maligne range noted cornice failures of which some are triggering slabs on the slopes below.
A size 3 persistent slab was also observed this Friday on Sunwapta peak, occurring in the alpine and treeline on a West aspect.
Daytime moist surface snow is present at all elevations on solar aspects. Dry or wind-affected surfaces persist on high north-facing alpine terrain. Sun crusts exist on solar aspects, with multiple melt-freeze crusts below ~2300 m.
The January 24th layer is buried 80–120 cm deep and remains a lingering concern in the alpine. The lower snowpack is generally well consolidated in deeper areas, while shallow areas remain weaker and more faceted.
Sunday evening will see clear skies and freezing levels drop to 1700m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: High 0 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. Freezing level: 2200 metres.
TuesdayFlurries up to 12cm. Alpine temperature: Low -4 °C, High -2 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h. Freezing level: 1900 metres.
WednesdayFlurries up to 6 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -8 °C, High -5 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 25 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
