Avalanche danger may be higher in the north of the region, where a buried weak layer has been recently reactive.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
The first of two cold fronts is expected to bring 5-10 cm snow on Friday, with strong south-westerly winds and the freezing level rising to around 1300 m. There is a lull on Saturday before the second front brings light snow and strong winds again on Sunday.
Avalanche Summary
Isolated wind slab avalanches were reported over the last couple of days. In the north of the region, a small natural avalanche that stepped down to the early January surface hoar on Sunday is a good reminder that this layer needs to remain a concern. Deeply buried persistent weak layers in the alpine also woke up in the north of the region over the weekend when several large avalanches released on basal facets. This weak layer was reported to be reactive to skier triggering from thin spots, as well as heavy triggers such as a smaller avalanches or cornice failures.
Snowpack Summary
Recent strong winds have created wind slabs on a variety of slopes at alpine and treeline elevations. Incoming snow will bury wind slabs, a thin sun crust on sunny aspects and surface hoar in isolated sheltered and shady locations. 40-80 cm of snow sits above a melt freeze crust buried around February 12th. This crust extends up to about 2000 m. Below this, a layer of surface hoar buried late in January remains a lingering concern. Shallow snowpack areas may also have a weak base of facets near the ground.
pgoddard,
Avalanche Canada
