Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions for the entire period

Overnight and Tuesday: A weak upper trough is forecast to move across the region tonight bringing moderate Southwest winds. The trough should continue to influence the interior regions on Tuesday. Expect mostly cloudy conditions with light winds and very light precipitation. Freezing levels are expected to rise to about 1000 metres during the day.Wednesday: The next weak ridge of high pressure should move into the interior ranges to fill in behind the trough as it exits into Alberta. Expect gradually clearing skies, light winds and freezing levels near the valley bottoms. There is a chance of some strong solar radiation in the afternoon.Thursday: Another trough is expected to drift into the interior from the coast. Snow fall amounts are un-certain at this time.

Numerous natural avalanches were reported from various aspects and elevations up to size 2.0 that were releasing in the storm snow. Skiers controlled avalanches up to size 1.5 in the storm snow. There was one report of a skier accidental avalanche that released from a steep convex roll in the storm snow and was about size 2.0, depositing debris into a terrain trap that piled up to 3.0 metres.

New snow has added to the recent storm slab above the February 12th weak surface hoar layer. This layer is now buried down about 30-60 cms depending on where you are in the region. This variable storm slab is also above a sun crust on Southerly aspects. New wind slabs developed at higher elevations due to the new snow and wind during the storm. These soft new wind slabs may be hiding stiffer wind slabs that are a couple of days older. Deeper persistent weak layers from early February and late January continue to show planar failures when moderate to hard forces are applied to snow profile tests. These deeper layers have not been reactive to the loads associated with recreationalists, but they may be triggered by large loads like an avalanche in motion, or a cornice fall.