Sunny skies and rising temperatures may initiate wet loose activity on lower elevation and/or sun-exposed slopes. Steer clear of cornices and wind-drifted areas as they have the potential to produce large avalanches.
In the north of the region, 30-50 cm of snow has been redistributed by strong south winds into reactive wind slabs on lee features. Watch for cracking, changes in snow stiffness, and the pattern of wind-drifting in the terrain where you are traveling. Triggering large wind slabs on specific features remains likely on Monday.
In the north of the region, cornices have seen substantial growth since the last storm, and they may release naturally with the impact of solar radiation. Cornice falls can act as triggers on slopes below.
Wet loose avalanches may release naturally on low elevation or steep sun-exposed slopes. A wet snow surface, pinwheeling or loose wet point releases out of the rocks are good indicators that it is time to back off.
Dry conditions for the next few days
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, isolated flurries with trace accumulations, light southwest winds, freezing level dropping to valley bottom.
Monday: Mainly sunny, light south winds, freezing level rising to 1400 m and dropping to valley bottom overnight.
Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud, light southwest winds, freezing level rising to 1300 m and dropping to valley bottom overnight.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy, scattered flurries with trace accumulations, moderate northwest winds, freezing level rising to 1000 m.
In the north of the region, reports indicate that an avalanche cycle occurred during the storm on Friday, where large (size 2.5) avalanches released naturally on a variety of aspects and elevations. Check out these MIN reports (here and here) from slopes near Chief Pascall.
Last week, observers near Duffey Lake reported a large (size 2.5) avalanche on a north aspect at 1750 m that was thought to have released 1 m deep on a persistent weak layer. Additionally, a size 1.5 skier accidental was reported on a northwest aspect in the alpine, which was also near Duffey Lake and also thought to have failed on a thin persistent weak layer of facets.
In the south of the region, there have been numerous reports of large (size 2-3) natural glide slab avalanches over the past week. Glide slabs are most likely in areas of smooth ground cover such as rock slabs and can be large, involving the full depth of the snowpack. Carefully consider your access/egress routes where they cross under large paths.
In the north of the region, 30-50 cm of new snow over the weekend has been redistributed by strong south winds into wind slabs on leeward slopes that may be likely to trigger. Massive cornices exist on ridgelines, which can act as triggers on slopes below.
Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer of facets can be found from mid-February on north aspects near treeline that demonstrated reactivity where it separates wind-stiffened snow above and below. There is some lingering uncertainty about whether this problem remains reactive in isolated areas. The lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.
The south of the region received only a trace of new snow over the weekend with moderate wind. The danger ratings are Moderate, Low, Low, with a concern for small wind slabs. The snowpack is generally well consolidated with no concerns of buried weak layers but recent notable glide avalanche activity.
