The recent snow will likely remain touchy and the potential to trigger a buried weak layer remains.
A weak layer of faceted grains above a hard melt-freeze crust may be found around 80 to 200 cm deep. This layer is most prominent between 1700 and 2100 m. All the recent snow is loading this weak layer, increasing the likelihood of triggering it. Humans are most likely to trigger it where it is spatially shallow, for example in thin, rocky snowpack areas.
Touchy storm and wind slabs have formed from the recent 30 to 60 cm of snow. Wind slabs are likely found in wind-affected terrain from strong southerly wind and storm slabs are found in terrain sheltered from the wind. These slabs will likely remain touchy, as they sit on weak snow or hard surfaces.
MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 30 km/h south wind, alpine temperature -13 C.
TUESDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 30 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -12 C.
WEDNESDAY: Increasing clouds with no precipitation, 20 km/h west wind, alpine temperature -12 C.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 40 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -8 C.
Many storm slab avalanches were observed on Sunday, at all elevation bands. A natural avalanche cycle likely occurred into Monday during the peak of the storm. Human-triggering remains elevated into Tuesday with more snow forecast.
We'd appreciate any observations while you are out travelling on the Mountain Information Network.
Around 30 to 60 cm of snow has accumulated since the weekend, with more snow forecast into Tuesday. The snow has likely formed touchy storm slabs in sheltered areas and wind slabs in exposed terrain from strong southerly wind.
The storm snow overlies a weak layer formed during the cold spell in late December. The weak layer consists of sugary faceted grains as well as potentially feathery surface hoar found in areas sheltered from the wind. In high-elevation terrain exposed to the wind, the snow likely overlies a hard wind-affected surface.
A weak layer of faceted grains may be found above a widespread melt-freeze crust that formed in early December. This layer is likely found anywhere from 80 to 200 cm deep. This layer was the culprit of large, destructive avalanches in December for the neighbouring Sea to Sky region. It has been most reactive between 1700 and 2100 m.
The lower snowpack is well-settled and strong.
