Conditions remain primed for human triggering, and a conservative mindset remains critical. Use extra caution around sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the afternoon.
Weak layers in the upper snowpack remain reactive and may produce large avalanches.
A deeply buried weak layer from December remains an isolated concern, and the potential for smaller avalanches to step down to this layer still exists.
Storm slabs sit on a weak interface and are are expected to be reactive to human triggering. Deeper deposits of wind-transported snow may exist in leeward and cross-loaded terrain, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
On Friday, ski cutting resulted in a size 1.5 slab failing on the mid-February weak layer down 70 cm. Several small wet loose avalanches were observed at lower elevations.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the stormy conditions resulted in a widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3. Many of these avalanches have been reported as wind, storm and persistent slabs at upper elevations and wet loose at lower elevations.
Conditions remain primed for human triggering on Sunday.
Over the past few days, strong southerly winds and up to 60 cm of new snow hit the region. Wind-transported snow has likely built deeper slabs on northerly aspects at upper elevations. Lower elevation snow may be crusty as freezing levels fall.
The upper metre of the snowpack is complicated. This snow sits above several significant weak layers that formed during the January and February dry spells. These include facets, surface hoar (in sheltered terrain), and crust on solar aspects. These layers are currently reactive.
Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December varies in depth from 100 to 300 cm. This layer appears to be dormant but remains an isolated concern in this region.
Saturday Night
Cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
Sunday
Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -2. Freezing level 1100 m.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -4. Freezing level 900 m.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 25 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -4. Freezing level 900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
