Uncertainty exists over ongoing reactivity of buried weak layers.
Minimize your exposure to avalanche terrain and overhead hazard.
Wind slabs may linger near ridge crests and rollovers. Recent winds have switched from east to southwest, so watch for slabs on all aspects and expect locally variable conditions.
Buried persistent weak layers remain possible to trigger. Warm temperatures and sunshine may increase reactivity on south facing slopes.
Over the weekend, small slabs were triggered within the storm snow. On Monday, explosive control work in the Bulkley produced widely propagating slab avalanches to size 3, some of which involved the variety of buried weak layers.
Looking forward, human triggering of wind affected snow and persistent weak layers remains possible.
Recent storm snow has been wind affected in exposed terrain. South-facing slopes and low elevations hold a surface crust.
Facets, surface hoar (in sheltered terrain), and a crust on solar aspects that all formed during the February drought, are buried around 30 to 50 cm deep.
Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December can be found. This layer appears to be dormant but remains an isolated concern in this region.
Check out this MIN from Hankin, with a great summary of snowpack conditions on the weekend.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1000 m.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Friday
5 cm of snow overnight.
Cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow/rain. 60 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures +1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
