Stick to conservative, low consequence slopes while the storm snow settles.
Human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible.
With increased load, the buried weak layers from early February (facets, surface hoar and crusts) in the upper metre of the snowpack may become more reactive, producing widely propagating avalanches.
Storm snow will remain reactive to human triggering. On slopes where wind loading is still occurring natural avalanches will be likely as well.
A natural avalanche cycle occurred on Wednesday and likely continued through Thursday but we have not received reports yet of activity on Thursday.
Avalanches have been reported to run far and up to size 3. Most of this activity likely occurred on north through east aspects.
Check out this great MIN report from Shames.
By Friday morning, storm totals are expected to reach 80 cm in most areas with up to 120 cm on the immediate coast. This new snow was accompanied by strong to extreme southwest wind, forming deeper deposits on north and east facing terrain. In sheltered terrain this new snow could overlie surface hoar or a sun crust.
Several weak layers of crust, surface hoar or facets are buried 75 to 150 cm deep. These layers are most concerning on sheltered treeline features.
Below, the remaining snowpack is generally well settled and well bonded.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 4 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 20 cm of snow. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
