Assess for instability before committing to consequential terrain.
Northerly wind may form wind slabs on southerly slopes. Where slabs form, they could be particularly touchy if they rest on a hard melt-freeze crust.
The north of the region (e.g. Duffey, Hurley) may have a a weak layer of faceted grains above a hard melt-freeze crust around 30 to 60 cm deep. A few avalanches over the past week may have released on it, with more activity observed in the neighbouring Sea to Sky region. It is most likely to be problematic on northwest to northeast aspects at treeline and alpine elevations.
MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 10 km/h north wind, alpine temperature -5 C.
TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, 20 km/h north wind, alpine temperature -10 C.
WEDNESDAY: Clear skies with no precipitation, 20 km/h north wind, alpine temperature -15 C.
THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, 10 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -9 C.
No new avalanches were observed in the south of the region. In the north, a few wind slabs were triggered by riders and naturally on Sunday in alpine terrain on north to east aspects. Also, small to large (size 1 to 2) wet loose avalanches were observed on sun-exposed slopes at all elevation bands.
A dusting of snow sits on a surface melt-freeze crust on all aspects below around 1600 m and on sun-exposed slopes into the alpine. Dry snow remains on shaded slopes above around 1600 m. Recent northerly wind may form wind slabs in lee terrain features at higher elevations, which may rest on the crust.
Around 30 to 60 cm deep, sugary faceted grains may be found around a melt-freeze crust from February in the north of the region (e.g., Duffey, Hurley). They may be most prevalent on northeast to northwest aspects at treeline and alpine elevations. Check out this forecaster blog for more info. These crusts may be found in the south of the region but reports suggest they are bonding to the snowpack.
There are no deeper concerns at this time.
