Dangerous Avalanche Conditions.
Beware of overhead and adjacent slopes. Remote triggering is a concern, avalanches have run full path.
Solar input could further weaken the snowpack.
Westerly winds may have formed wind slab in exposed terrain at treeline and above. These avalanches have the potential to step down to deeper layers.
A weak layer of faceted grains above a crust buried 60 to 120 cm deep is a recipe for large, high-consequence avalanches. Remote triggering is an ongoing concern.
Check out this MIN for photos of sled triggered avalanches in Allan Creek and this one for a skier triggered avalanche.
Human triggered avalanches continue throughout the region. Many of these avalanches have been remotely triggered.
We expect this type of avalanche activity to continue.
The wind has come from a variety of directions, wind effect could be found on all exposed terrain at higher elevations. A new crust or moist snow will be found on south and west facing slopes.
40 to 80 cm overlies a layer of surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, weak facets, or a hard melt-freeze crust on south and west-facing slopes.
A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 60 to 120 cm deep. This crust may have a layer of facets above it. The snowpack below this crust is generally not concerning except in shallow alpine terrain.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear. 15 to 25 km/h northwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -24°C.
Wednesday
Sunny. 5 to 20 km/h west alpine wind. Treeline temperature -11°C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow. 15 to 35 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -8°C.
Friday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected. 25 to 40 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -6°C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
