Sunday could prove to be a great day for skiing!
Beware of the potential for surface avalanches to step down to deeper layers.
Strong winds Thursday, Friday and moderate winds Saturday, accompanied by new snow has built wind slabs in lee features in the alpine. Use caution when transitioning from solar aspects (with a crust) to northerly alpine aspects. Dry loose avalanches are possibility as new snow accumulates.
Below the recent snow, a 90-150 cm slab sits on the Jan 30 facet layer. On all but high north aspects, recent sun crusts and the March 27 rain crust cap this slab, providing some security. Continue to use caution in thinner, high areas or when these crusts are weak or breaking down with daytime heat.
No new avalanches observed or reported Saturday.
On Friday, a remote wind slab avalanche on St. Nicholas size 2.5 was reported that stepped down to deeper layers and occurred out of steep unsupported terrain
10-40cm of new snow overlays a surface crusts found in most locations except north-facing alpine zones. Windslab can be found on lee aspects. The integrity of the snowpack related to human triggering is based upon the strength and supportiveness of the surface crust. In areas with no recent surface crust, where the snow is dry and the ski conditions are best, the snowpack is generally strong, but a mid-pack layer of facets (Jan 30) remains the main buried weak layer of concern
Saturday night: Clear periods with isolated flurries. Alpine temps: Low -10 °C. Ridge wind northwest: 10-30 km/h.
Sunday: Sunny with cloudy periods. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temps: High -5 °C. Ridge wind west: 10-30 km/h. Freezing level: 1800 metres.
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temps: Low -6 °C, High 1 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 40 km/h. Freezing level: 2400 metres.
