Danger ratings have declined but the inherently weak and dangerous snowpack structure remains.
A moderate rating reflects the possibility of large, high-consequence human-triggered avalanches. Remain diligent in your terrain selection by avoiding steep, rocky, wind-affected terrain and choosing small, low-consequence features.
Lingering weak layers from January and February exist at all elevations on a variety of aspects. On shaded slopes, these layers generally present as surface hoar or facets, and on sun-exposed slopes, they present as facets and a crust. Be aware these layers can be remotely triggered (from a distance).
New snow is expected to bond poorly to the underlying surface, creating small but reactive dry loose avalanches. In isolated areas that receive greater than 15 cm of new snow, it is possible that a storm slab problem may exist in steep terrain.
The base of the snowpack remains very weak. Very large human-triggered avalanches are possible at treeline and above. Avoid thin, rocky start zones and shallow areas with variable snowpack depth where you are most likely to trigger this layer. Give careful consideration to the slopes overhead as large avalanches may run well into the runout zone or into lower-angle terrain.
On Wednesday near Panorama ski resort, a natural wind slab released from a southeast aspect in the alpine, stepping down to a mid-snowpack persistent weak layer treeline elevation, culminating in a size 2.
Strong solar radiation in the past week has triggered several natural size 3 deep persistent slabs, mainly on south aspects. These avalanches were reported from rocky alpine and treeline features between 1900 and 2700 m. A variety of solar-triggered loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 were also observed from steep, rocky slopes.
Last Sunday, a remotely triggered size 2 persistent slab avalanche was reported on a NW aspect at 2400 m which failed down 70 cm on facets and was triggered from 30 m away. A human-triggered size 2 wind slab avalanche also occurred on a SE aspect at 2400 m which was estimated to have failed down around 80 cm.
Up to 10 cm of new snow may accumulate at upper elevations by end of day Friday. This new snow overlies a crust on solar aspects, surface hoar up to 10 mm in shady and wind-sheltered areas, faceting snow on polar aspects, and wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain.
A weak layer buried around March 12 is now down around 20-40 cm and typically consists of wind-affected snow, facetted snow, and a thin sun crust.
The middle of the snowpack includes at least a couple of lingering persistent weak layers down 50-90 cm including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a sun crust on south aspects. Activity on these layers has tapered off but still remains a concern in isolated areas.
The lower snowpack is made up of a widespread layer of large, weak facets, and/or depth hoar crystals. This weak layer has been responsible for a number of recent very large, destructive avalanches and will likely continue to be a concern for the rest of the season.
Thursday night
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -7 °C. Ridge wind 15 to 30 km/h from the south. Freezing level 900 metres.
Friday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -7 °C. Ridge wind west 15 to 30 km/h. Freezing level rises to 1500 metres.
Saturday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -8 °C. Ridge wind northwest 15 to 30 km/h. Freezing level rises to 1500 metres.
Sunday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -6 °C. Ridge wind light from the northwest. Freezing level rises to 1500 metres.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
