Windslabs may be found on a variety of aspects due to recently shifting wind direction. The air is cold but the March sun can be strong so avoid exposure to cornices and watch for signs of warming on steep south aspects.
Many terrain features have been reverse-loaded by winds over the weekend. Older wind slabs are harder to triggered but can still deliver surprises. Variability in direction of recent winds means wind slabs might be found on a variety of aspects.
No new avalanches were reported on Sunday or Monday.
On Saturday, there were a few reports of storm slab avalanches, a size 2.5 triggered by a cornice fall north of Stewart and a size 1.5 accidentally triggered by a skier north of Terrace.
Surface conditions are a mix of very wind affected snow in exposed terrain features, old wind slabs on lee aspects, sun crusts on steep solar aspects, and preserved softer snow in sheltered areas making for nice riding.
A layer of small surface hoar or facets is now buried over 80 cm deep. A facet/crust layer formed in late January exists around 150 cm deep. Large avalanches were suspected to have run on this layer in mid February. Triggering these deeper layers may still be possible in places where the snowpack is shallow.
The lower snowpack is generally well consolidated but as you move further inland where the snowpack is thinner, basal instabilities linger.
Monday night
Some thin cloud. Wind from the north at 10 km/h. Temperature -18˚C.
Tuesday
Mostly clear and cold. Wind from the north at 10 km/h. Temperature -15˚C
WednesdayA mix of sun and cloud. Up to 4 cm of new snow. Wind from the northeast at 10 km/h. Warming to -5˚C in the afternoon.
ThursdayClear and cold overnight with temperatures dropping to -15˚C and rising to -5˚C in the afternoon. Wind from the north at 10 km/h.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
