Caution still advised in Portal/Whistler Creek as persistent slab still a concern. Intense solar radiation and rising freezing levels on Saturday may act as a trigger.
Weather Forecast
Cold clear nights on Friday and Saturday. Sunny conditions on Saturday with light winds and freezing level to 2000 m. Cloud moving in on Sunday with light snow beginning by late afternoon. Freezing levels rising to 2300 m on Sunday and winds remaining light. Flurries continuing into early next week.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is generally shallow and poorly consolidated, significant variation exists within the forecasting area. The persistent slab may still be active in the Portal Creek area. This layer could be trigger from thin spots on the slope (trees, rocks, etc). Alpine wind slab is present on lee slopes. Springlike conditions below tree-line.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Saturday
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.