Uncertainty remains on how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.
Conditions will vary with elevation, from wet snow to surface crust.
Make observations as you travel.
Two layers of concern are lingering within the upper snowpack: a crust layer is 60 to 80 cm deep and a weak layer of surface hoar/facet is 100 to 200 cm deep. Be cautious in areas where avalanche paths have not yet released.
The upper snowpack is soaked and overlies a supportive crust. Wet slabs are still possible at upper elevations, while wet loose will be more possible at lower elevations, particularly in areas where there isn't a thick surface crust.
On Thursday, numerous and very large avalanches (up to size 2.5-3) were reported near Fernie, indicating a widespread natural cycle. These included cornice falls, wet slabs and loose wet avalanches from all aspects and elevations. Persistent slabs (1.5 to 2.5 m deep crown) and a glide slab were also observed at treeline.
If you are heading into the backcountry, please consider sharing conditions via the MIN.
High freezing levels and heavy rain have saturated the top 20 to 50 cm of surface snow up to the mountain tops.
As freezing levels drop, a widespread crust will start to form on all aspects and higher elevations.
Below this, up to 50 cm of wet snow sits above a crust (1 to 10 cm thick), buried in early March.
The widespread avalanche cycle has likely flushed most of the persistent slabs in the top 120 cm of the snowpack, but some may still linger in areas where avalanche paths have not yet released.
The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.
The lower snowpack is soaked at lower elevations.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. Up to 2cm of snow in high alpine. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
