Ski conditions are slowly improving at upper elevations with some new snow and cooling temperatures.
Continue to use caution on larger slopes in the alpine and at treeline since our persistent avalanche problems have not left us.
The cooling temperatures have reduced the likelihood of the persistent slab problem on the facets that formed during the cold snap in January, but the weak layer has not gone away entirely, especially at upper elevations. Continue to evaluate this layer before committing to large open terrain.
The weak facets and depth hoar are still present at the base of the snowpack in many areas at treeline and above. These are most likely to be triggered from thin snowpack areas or by large triggers like cornices. If triggered this could result in a large avalanche, so evaluate steep terrain carefully.
A few small loose dry sluffs up to size 1 were observed in steep terrain on Sunday, and some small isolated wind slabs up to size 1 from the new snow were found in immediate lee areas at local ski areas. Explosive control resulted in a couple of larger avalanches up to size 2.5 at Norquay failing on the persistent and deep persistent layers at treeline and above.
5-15 cm of new snow has greatly improved the ski quality at upper elevations. This new snow sits on a recently formed crust, which is widespread at all elevations, except for north aspects above 2500 m. The cooling temperatures have improved the stability of the mid-pack, but the January persistent facet layers down 20-50 cm, and deep persistent facet and depth hoar layers at the base of the snowpack, are still present at treeline and above.
Light snow will continue on Sunday night with accumulations up to 5 cm. This is followed by a clearing trend on Monday as light flurries give way to a few sunny breaks in the afternoon. Winds will be light from the SW. Treeline temperatures will be between -6°C and -10°C.
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