There is still a concern for strong solar warming in some areas. I don't think it will be widespread, but some southerly aspects may get their first warming since the recent storms.
Confidence
Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure with light winds and many sunny periods are expected on Monday over all of the interior regions. The airmass is still unsettled, and some areas may develop periods of convective flurries. A Pacific frontal system is forecast to move onto the coast during Monday evening, and should develop cloud and precipitation in the Interior around midnight. Expect winds to increase to moderate from the southwest and precipitation to be moderate to heavy by Tuesday morning. This system is expected to continue during the day and into Wednesday morning.
Avalanche Summary
One operator reported that a snowcat remotely triggered a W-SW aspect slope in the alpine from 25 metres away that released on a persistent weak layer down close to 200 cm and resulted in a size 3.5. Explosive control on Saturday resulted in slabs that were 50-80 cm thick and up to size 2.0
Snowpack Summary
Convective flurries resulted in another 10-20 cm of new snow across the region combined with light winds. There is a soft slab about 50 cm thick that is sitting on the recent storm snow. The combined slab above the mid-february persistent weak layer is now between 150-200 cm. Some operators continue to get easy-moderate sudden planar character shears on the mid-february surface hoar in shallow areas. The persistent weak layer continues to be a concern at all elevations, and may show wide propagations on low angle terrain below treeline. The new snow may consolidate and release naturally if the skies clear and we get some strong solar radiation. Snowpack conditions continue to be tricky to evaluate, and are variable throughout the region.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.