Winds changing to southerly and increasing in strength on Saturday. Main concern is wind slab in the Alpine and open Treeline; may see an increase in sensitivity with additional load on Sunday.
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.
Saturday: Isolated flurries with trace. Alpine High -8 C. Ridge wind SW 15-25 km/h. Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday: Flurries 10cm. Alpine Low -10 C; High -6 C. Ridge wind SW 20 gust 55 km/h. Freezing level 1400m.
Monday: Scattered flurries 5cm. Alpine Low -11 C; High -3 C. Ridge wind SW 10-20 km/h. Freezing level valley bottom.
10-15cm from last weekend 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. No patrol today.
