Danger avalanche conditions persist. The recent storm snow has buried a touchy weak layer and human triggering remains a serious concern. Conservative decision-making remains critical.
Buried weak layers remain very sensitive to human triggering and could result in very large avalanches. It is possible to trigger these layers remotely and avalanches have the potential to run full path, so watch your overhead exposure.
New snow accompanied by strong wind has formed touchy slabs that may sit over a weak layer. These slabs will remain very reactive to human triggering on Friday and have the potential to travel full path.
Numerous natural, skier, and remotely triggered avalanches up to size 3 have been reported in the past few days throughout the region. These avalanches failed on layers below the recent storm snow, the mid-February weak layer, and the early-February facet/crust layer.
While natural activity should begin to taper off on Friday, human triggering is expected to remain a serious concern.
Up to 70 cm of storm snow has accumulated over the past week. This new snow has formed touchy slabs, especially in wind-exposed terrain, and may sit over a weak interface in some areas.
A weak layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February may be found down 40 to 80 cm.
A widespread crust formed in early February is buried roughly 60 to 100 cm and extends up to 2400 m. Weak facets have been found above this crust. This layer has produced many concerning avalanches across the province.
The lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.
Thursday Night
Cloudy with up to 15 cm of new snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with scattered flurries up to 8 cm. 20 to 40 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h southeast alpine wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks and a chance of flurries. 10 to 20 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
