A weak layer in the snowpack remains a concern for human-triggering.
Avalanche activity on this layer has tapered, but the snowpack structure remains suspect. Don't let your guard down.
Recent snow and wind have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features at upper elevations. They may be especially reactive where they sit over a slippery crust or surface hoar.
A widespread weak layer of surface hoar/crust/facets is buried around 30 to 40 cm deep. Avalanche activity has tapered recently but the snowpack structure remains a concern for human triggering.
On Tuesday a human triggered persistent slab avalanche was reported near Nelson. This avalanche was a small (size 1.5) 30 cm deep, on a Northwest aspect near 2000 m.
On Sunday, several human-triggered storm slab and persistent slab avalanches were reported.
Storm slabs releases were roughly 15 cm deep, with deeper releases in wind loaded areas.
Persistent slab releases were roughly 30 to 40 cm deep, failing on the late-January layer of surface hoar/facets/crust.
Cool and clear conditions are promoting surface hoar growth, primarily in areas protected from the sun and wind. Below this 10 to 15 cm of settled snow overlies another surface hoar layer. On south aspect terrain the upper snowpack is becoming moist during the day with solar warming.
The most concerning feature of the snowpack is surface hoar on a melt-freeze crust, with a thick layer of facets below, roughly 30 to 50 cm deep. Avalanche activity on this layer has tapered but this snowpack structure remains a concern.
The mid and lower snowpack remain well settled, with no significant concerns at this time.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear skies. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Friday
Cloudy. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
