High freezing levels and sun will lead to dangerous avalanche conditions through the day.
Conditions will deteriorate sooner than expected if a strong crust does not form overnight.
Recently formed wind slabs may still be reactive to rider triggering, and could fail naturally during periods of strong sun or warm temperatures.
Cornices are more likely to fall as the temperature rises and the sun comes out.
Wet loose avalanches will occur during calm, sunny periods. Avoid being underneath slopes in direct sun.
As strong westerly winds increased on Thursday, several natural wind slab avalanches up to size 2 were observed from alpine terrain. Cornices were actively growing as well. (See MIN here)
Strong sun and warming throughout the weekend will increase the likelihood of both natural and human-triggered avalanches. Be increasingly cautious as the snowpack warms up and weakens.
20 to 50 cm of recent snow continues to settle atop either a melt-freeze crust at upper elevations or wet snow lower down. In exposed areas, the new snow has been redistributed by strong westerly winds.
A weak layer of facets above a hard crust is buried 50 to 70 cm deep. This layer hasn't produced avalanches since last week's warm weather.
Facets exist at the base of the snowpack in shallow areas.
The snowpack continues to melt at lower elevations.
Check out this Conditions Update video for tips on managing the current spring conditions.
Saturday Night
Clear skies. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.
Sunday
Sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2800 m.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
Tuesday
Sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
