Significant snowpack and weather variations exist throughout the region. Be aware of conditions that are specific to your area and make observations continuously as you travel.
Confidence
Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions
Weather Forecast
Sunday night and Monday: Light to locally moderate snowfall becoming light on Monday / Strong west winds becoming light northwesterly on Monday / Freezing level at 1100mTuesday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest winds / Freezing level at 1200mWednesday: Very light snowfall / Light southwest winds / Freezing level at 900m
Avalanche Summary
Widespread avalanche activity took place in response to Friday's system. Loose dry and storm slab avalanches to size 2.5 were reported from the region. Continued avalanche activity is anticipated with weather forecast for Sunday night.
Snowpack Summary
On Friday light to locally heavy amounts of snow fell. The new snow was distributed into deeper wind slabs by locally strong winds, particularly on the west side of the region where accumulations have been highest. These new accumulations are adding load to the variably reactive February 12th and 15th surface hoar layers which now exist up to 80cm below the surface. The slab may also be reactive on southerly aspects where buried sun crusts exist. A surface hoar layer buried on February 23 is still on the radar of some operators. This layer has been less likely to trigger by skiers, but may still be sensitive to large loads like avalanches in motion or cornice fall. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong.
Problems
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.
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.