Start on small features and carefully assess the snowpack before entering committing terrain.
Retreat to mellower terrain if you find signs of instability.
Wind slabs will be most likely to trigger where recent strong south winds have formed deeper deposits below ridgecrests and in cross-loaded features.
Loose wet avalanches are likely to occur during periods of strong sun and warming.
On Tuesday, several loose wet and storm slab avalanches were naturally and skier-triggered across the region. They ranged from small size 1's to a very large size 3, and occurred on a variety of aspects and elevation bands.
On Monday, west of Terrace, numerous large (up to size 2.5) natural avalanches were reported.
On Sunday, several large (size 2-3) natural avalanches were reported.
It may take a few more days for the recent storm snow to bond to underlying layers.
30-75 cm of settling snow sits on a widespread crust, except on north-facing upper-elevation slopes where isolated pockets of small surface hoar (weak feathery crystals) and/or faceted snow may be buried. The widespread crust was formed in early April and the recent snow may still be poorly bonded to it in some areas.
Recent southerly winds have likely formed deeper, more reactive deposits of snow in leeward terrain.
Previously problematic layers deeper in the snowpack appear to have bonded and strengthened, however, there is a small chance that they could remain a risk in steep, north-facing, high alpine terrain.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow possible. 50 to 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -2 °C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. Trace amounts of snow possible. 10 to 25 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.
Friday
Partly cloudy. Trace amounts of snow possible. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of new snow possible. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
