Weak sugary snow in the bottom third of the snowpack continues to be a concern, as there is potential for large human triggered avalanches failing at this interface.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Wednesday
Weather Forecast
Dribs and drabs of snow are expected for the first half of the week before the potential for a more significant system comes into play on Thursday.MONDAY: Scattered cloud cover, freezing level at valley bottom, light to moderate north/northwest wind, no significant precipitation. TUESDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level at valley bottom, moderate southwest wind, scattered snow showers. WEDNESDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level at valley bottom, moderate to strong southwest wind, 1 to 5 cm of snow. Visit avalanche.ca/weather for a more detailed mountain weather forecast.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday wind slabs to size 1.5 were triggered by skiers on E aspects between 1600 and 1850 m. Previously, there was a report of a size 2.5 natural avalanche in the northern part of the region. This may have happened in the last 4 days and possibly failed on a persistent weak layer buried early february on a NW aspect in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
10 to 20 cm of storm snow accumulating in the last week has been transported by the wind, and now sits on a variety of old surface conditions including isolated wind slabs, pockets of soft snow (5 to 10 cm deep), sun crusts, and surface hoar. A supportive rain crust exists below 1000 m. A layer of surface hoar that was buried on February 10th may exist 30 to 60 cm below the surface, but there's a fair bit of uncertainty regarding the reactivity and distribution of this layer. A stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. Although possibly dormant, this basal weakness has the potential to produce very large destructive avalanches.
ghelgeson,
Avalanche Canada
