Highway 93 is closed with an uncertain opening day. It's possible another 80cm may arrive by Friday.
A 40-80cm slab existed previously and is now receiving potentially 80cm more load by Friday. This may be the tipping point for some slopes.
As the storm continues with potentially 80 cm of snow expected, this problem will increase in size potential, run distance, and sensitivity.
Very high freezing levels and rain potentially up to 2400m is increasing the danger of wet loose avalanches. They can run far.
Technicians on Tuesday closed highway 93 and could not see much terrain through the deluge of rain and snow. Monday's Icefield afternoon road patrol was also stormy, windy, and poor visibility but a couple of size 2 were observed near Parkers ridge. Sunday's patrol near Mount Morden Long, near Sunwapta station, observed nothing notable with excellent visibility yet whumphing occurred up to 1800m. Avalanche control on March 12th produced a few surface wind slabs size 2.
The last 24 hours brought 20cm of warm moist new snow at the Icefields but much less at Maligne. Rain occurred below 2200m. This sits on top of the previous either scoured terrain or leeward wind slabs. A persistent weak layer of surface hoar and facets is buried 20-80 cm but overall the snowpack is generally well consolidated with facets near the ground. Average snow depths for Icefields is 150-220 cm and Maligne is 60-140 cm.
Tuesday night will bring 16cm of snow, -2 °C, and 50 km/h. winds. Wednesday, another 14cm, 0 °C, and 65 km/h winds. It will snow abundantly on Thursday with 39cm, -1 °C and 80 km/h winds. Friday could bring some sun and flurries. Another pulse of 19cm will come on Saturday but cooler temperatures.
