Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Saturday

We are moving into a high and dry period for the foreseeable future. Northwest flow across the province will allow a couple of shortwave troughs to ripple along the upper flow giving a mix of sun and cloud. At this time, precipitation amounts will be insignificant.SATURDAY: Overcast, freezing level rising to around 1200 m, light to moderate southwest wind, trace of precipitation possible.SUNDAY: Scattered cloud cover, freezing level rising to around 1000 m, light southwest wind, trace of precipitation possible.MONDAY: Scattered cloud cover, freezing level rising to around 900 m, light west wind, no precipitation expected.

Control work on Friday produced storm slab avalanches to size 2.5 on southeast through southwest facing features between 1700 and 2050 m.On Thursday storm slabs to size 2.5 released naturally on a variety of aspects. Human triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported from both west and northeast facing features between 1950 and 2000 m.Control work Wednesday produced storm slabs to size 2 on southeast, south, southwest and northwest facing features between 1800 and 2100 m. A skier triggered size 1.5 storm slab was reported from a southwest facing feature at 2000 m. Relatively deep storm slabs were sensitive to human triggering on Tuesday to size 1.5 on south and east facing terrain between 1700 and 2000 m. Crown heights were between 25 and 60 cm. Widespread sluffing was also reported.

The region picked up 20 to 60 cm of new snow this week with widely variable winds. Moderate to strong east/southeast winds picked up Thursday night and added some stiffness to the storm slab at all elevations. In some locations this snow rests on the February 23rd weak layer which is composed of small surface hoar on polar aspects and a thin crust on solar aspects. Moderate resistant planar shears were reported at this interface Friday.40 to 90 cm of snow now rests on the mid-February weak layer that is composed of facets, surface hoar and a sun crust on solar aspects.Deeper in the snowpack weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. Several surface hoar and facet layers are buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and there is a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.