The new storm snow is expected to remain reactive to human triggering on Thursday, especially in wind-loaded terrain features. Give this new snow time to settle and bond before pushing into bigger and more committing terrain features.
The new storm snow is expected to remain reactive to human triggering on Thursday, especially in wind-loaded terrain and on steep, convex, and/or unsupported terrain features. There is a lot of uncertainty regarding how the new snow will bond to the old surface so use a cautious approach and watch for changing conditions as you get to higher elevations.
On Wednesday, the Avalanche Canada field team observed several loose dry avalanches which occurred naturally during Tuesday night's storm.
The recent storm snow is expected to remain reactive on Thursday, especially in wind-exposed terrain.
30-60 cm of new storm snow has fallen on dry, settled snow above 1500 m, a melt-freeze crust in the 1000-1500 m elevation band, and moist or wet snow below 1000 m. There is a lot of uncertainty as to how well this new snow will bond to the old surface at each of these elevation bands.
Snowpack depths at treeline are around 100 cm, tapering quickly with elevation. Although the snowpack in most forested areas below treeline remains below threshold depths for avalanches, many steep bluffs, cut-banks, and alpine-like features in the upper below treeline band are capable of producing avalanches.
Wednesday Night
Mainly clear with a few clouds, light NW wind, freezing level around 700 m.
Thursday
Increasing cloud cover with flurries beginning in the late afternoon, light NW wind becoming moderate SW in the afternoon, freezing level around 900 m.
Thursday night and Friday
Light snowfall 5-15 cm, moderate SW-W wind, freezing level around 1200 m.
Friday night and Saturday:
Snowfall 10-25 cm, strong SW wind, freezing level around 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
