Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
Fresh storm slabs continued to build on Thursday with new snow and strong winds.
Human triggered avalanches remain likely.
Stick to conservative, low consequence terrain and give the storm snow more time to settle.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Thursday's storm triggered a few natural avalanches in the hwy corridor, up to size 2.5. Avalanche control Thursday produced widespread results, triggering avalanches up to size 3.0.
Before Thursdays snowfall, large avalanche debris and fracture lines could be seen in most avalanche paths from last weekends storm. The natural avalanche cycle had avalanches up to size 4, running full path.
A group up the Asulkan had 1 skier partially buried in a size 2 avalanche Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 20cm of new snow fell Thursday, with strong SW winds. This covers previous thick storm slabs from up to 80cm that fell last weekend, accompanied by periods of extreme SW winds. This slab sits on old breakable crust &/or surface hoar (3-10mm, largest in the alpine).
Two persistent weak layers (PWL) in the heavily facetted snow from cold temps in Jan/Feb are now buried well over a meter. Large triggers such as storm slab avalanches in motion may step-down to these layer.
Weather Summary
A weak ridge gives mixed sun and cloud, with cooling temps heading in to the weekend.
Tonight Isolated flurries. Alpine low -14°C. Ridgetop wind Moderate SW. Freezing level (FZL) valley bottom.
Fri Mixed sun and cloud. Alpine high -11°C. Light SW wind. FZL 900m.
Sat Scattered flurries (5cm). Low -12°C, High -9 °C. Light SW wind. FZL 1100m.
Sun Isolated Flurries. Low -11°C, High -9°C. Light SW wind. FZL 1200m.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Recent new snow along with strong SW winds, has created a widespread storm slab that is reactive on all aspects and elevations. Human-triggered avalanches are likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Persistent Slabs
There are buried persistent weak layer (PWL) 's down more than 60cm in the snowpack. Depending on aspect and elevation, there may be suncrust, facets and/or surface hoar lurking in the mid-upper snowpack. There's potential for step-down avalanches if storm slabs in motion trigger these layers.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2.5 - 4