Stick to conservative, low-angle slopes with no overhead hazard.
Human and naturally triggered avalanches are likely and could occur at all elevations.
With increased load, the buried weak layers from early February (facets, surface hoar and crusts) in the upper metre of the snowpack will 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.
We expect natural avalanche activity occurred on Wednesday but at the time of publishing we have yet to receive reports.
Several rider and remotely triggered avalanches occurred over the past few days. These avalanches occurred at treeline and in the alpine on northerly aspects. The remotely triggered avalanches failed on an early February weak layer.
By Thursday morning, storm totals are expected to reach 25 to 50 cm, this snow will be accompanied by strong to extreme southwest wind, forming deeper deposits on north and east aspects. Windward slopes may be scoured back to an old crust.
Crust, facet and spotty surface hoar layers exist in the upper metre of the snowpack. These layers are most concerning at treeline and below, especially in inland areas where the snowpack is shallower.
A January crust and facet layer is buried 90 to 150 cm deep. Below, the remaining snowpack is generally well settled and bonded.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy. 2 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
