As storm snow accumulates, avalanche hazard will rise, creating vary dangerous avalanche conditions.
Step down avalanches are possible. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
Weak layers in the upper snowpack of surface hoar/crust/facets continues to be loaded by new snow. A recent report of a very large persistent slab avalanche is proof that weak layers deeper in the upper snowpack remain a concern.
Stormy conditions will bring an additional 15 cm of new snow to the region bringing storm snow totals to roughly 35 cm. Storm slab avalanches could step down to deeper weak layers described in the snowpack summary.
On Monday, A size 3 skier remote avalanche was reported that occurred in the Qua area near Nelson.
Several Mountain Information Network posts describe human-triggered slab avalanches failing on crusts and/or surface hoar layers down roughly 30 cm.
Looking forward, weak layers described in the snowpack summary are likely to remain sensitive as they are loaded with new snow.
An additional 10 to 15 cm of snow brings storm snow totals to roughly 30 to 35 cm. This new snow has buried a complex upper snowpack. This region is highly variable with similar weak layers that vary widely in depth and distribution:
On February 13th a surface hoar layer and/or a crust on solar aspects was buried.
On February 7th a surface hoar layer/crust layer (depending on aspect) was buried.
On January 26th, a surface hoar/crust layer sitting on a facet layer was buried and is down 60 to 80 cm.
This weak snowpack structure will continue to produce avalanches as new snow loads it.
The mid and lower snowpack remain well settled.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
