Stick to conservative, low consequence slopes while the storm snow settles.
Human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible during active wind loading.
With recent load, the buried weak layers from early February (facets, surface hoar and crusts) in the upper metre of the snowpack may be more reactive, producing widely propagating avalanches.
Storm snow will likely remain reactive to human triggering. On slopes where wind loading is still occurring natural avalanches will be possible as well.
A natural avalanche cycle occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, details of the extent of the cycle are limited due to poor visibility.
Avalanches have been reported to run far and up to size 3. Most of this activity occurred on north through east aspects.
On Thursday a size 2 persistent slab was remotely triggered by a vehicle on a northwest facing slope at treeline. This avalanche released on the mid February surface hoar, which was down 75 cm in this location.
Recent storm totals are 50 to 80 cm in most areas with up to 120 cm on the immediate coast. This new snow was accompanied by strong to extreme southwest wind, forming deeper deposits on north and east facing terrain. In sheltered terrain this new snow could overlie surface hoar or a sun crust.
Several weak layers of crust, surface hoar or facets are buried 75 to 150 cm deep. These layers are most concerning on sheltered treeline features.
Below, the remaining snowpack is generally well settled and bonded.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 20 cm of snow. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 cm of snow. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
