Forecasts vary but are showing up to 15cm new snow on Friday in the Icefields area with light winds and increasing freezing level. Looking like a nice refresh down South!
This problem is specific to steep terrain. Potential size of dry loose avalanches will increase during the day with the new snow - power sluffing may be enough to knock you off your feet as new snow sits over a firm bed surface in most locations.
Parkers Ridge area:
Friday - Periods of snow up to 16cm. Winds light to 15km/h. Freezing level 2100m; valley bottom (VB) overnight
Saturday - Cloudy with sunny periods. Winds light to 15km/h. Freezing level 2300m; VB overnight
Sunday - Scattered flurries up to 5cm. Winds light gust to 45km/h. Freezing level 2300m
Additional info @ Avalanche Canada MWF
5-15cm of new snow from last weekend sits over previously wind effected surface or sun/temperature crust. Less winds slab development than anticipated with most areas having no visual wind effect. Isolated pockets of wind slab possible near ridge top. A variety of crusts are present in upper snowpack at all elevations; mid pack is well consolidated
Thursday - large serac fall observed off Athabasca below the ramp burying approach size 2.5; a few loose dry - one size 1.5 seen on the Sky Ladder. Medicine Slabs on Maligne Lake Road had one size 1.5 wind slab 20cm deep as well as a few loose dry avalanches up to size 1. Please consider submitting a MIN report if you observe any new activity.
