Seeking dry snow after the warmup may lead you into terrain with lingering persistent slab hazards.
Remain cautious on high northerly slopes & areas without a supportive surface crust.
The persistent weak layer has produced several large to very large avalanches in recent days. It remains a concern in areas where a thick and strong surface crust is absent.
Back off slopes if the surface becomes wet with rising temperatures.
Sun: Several small loose wet avalanches were ski cut and one size 2 natural avalanche occurred near Castle Mtn.
Fri /Sat: Naturally triggered size 2.5 persistent slabs occurred near Castle Mtn. Both ran on the persistent weak layer, approx 50 cm deep. In nearby Warterton, five natural size 2.5 to 3 persistent slabs were observed on north through east slopes at treeline and alpine. They also ran on the same weak layer, which remains a concern at higher elevations.
In most areas, the snow surface is crusty or wet/moist up to around 1900 m. The moist snow extends 30 to 50 cm deep, while most sun-affected slopes are moist to ground. Dry but wind-affected snow may remain on high north-facing slopes.
The main feature of the region's overall shallow snowpack is a persistent weak layer of surface hoar or facets from late January now buried 40 to 60 cm deep (see photo below). This layer was active during the warm-up and remains a concern at elevations where a thick surface crust hasn't stabilized the snowpack.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow, clearing toward morning. 10 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind, increasing. Freezing level 1400 m, then falling to valley bottom. Treeline temperature around -10 °C.
Tuesday
Sunny, with increasing cloud in the afternoon. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1700 m. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1700 m. Treeline temperature around 2 °C.
Thursday
Sunny. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1800 m. Treeline temperature around-1 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
