Use caution on wind-loaded slopes where triggering avalanches is a concern.
Wind slab avalanches are possible to trigger in lee terrain after recent snow has been redistributed by southwest wind. The bond of this snow to underlying layers is suspect.
Minimal avalanche activity was reported over the weekend, although on Saturday some notable avalanches were remotely-triggered from low angle terrain in the Norns area north of Castlegar. These size 1 and 2 avalanches failed on a 30 cm deep weak layer and occurred on southeast slopes in upper treeline terrain. Otherwise, over the past few days there have been a few small (size 1) skier-triggered slab avalanches in the top 20 to 30 cm of snow.
In the coming days, slab avalanches will remain possible in the top 20 to 40 cm of snow, most likely on wind-affected slopes where this snow has more slab characteristics.
Surface conditions are variable and include sun crusts, wind-affected snow, and in some places a dusting of snow above surface hoar. Sheltered areas have 20 to 40 cm of soft snow from last week. This snow sits above a layer of surface hoar or decomposing crusts, that could develop into a problem when buried more deeply. The lower snowpack contains weak and faceted grains, but these layers have not recently produced avalanches.
Monday night
Partly cloudy, isolated flurries with trace amounts of snow, 20 km/h north wind, treeline temperatures drop to -10 ºC.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, no precipitation, 20 km/h north wind, treeline temperatures around -6 °C.
WednesdaySunny, no precipitation, 20 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures around -8 °C.
ThursdayMix of sun and cloud, no precipitation, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
