Buried weak layers remain possible to be triggered, where they exist. Cornices and sun-exposed slopes will deteriorate during the heat of the day, potentially increasing the likelihood of avalanche activity.
Cornices will weaken with sunny skies and relatively mild air temperature. The snow on sun-exposed slopes may also moisten, so use caution during the heat of the day.
Two persistent weak layers may be found in the snowpack:
These layers could be triggered by riders anywhere they still exist. A mild, sunny Tuesday may increase the likelihood of triggering these layers.
MONDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, 10 km/h northeast wind, alpine temperature -6 C.
TUESDAY: Morning clear skies and afternoon clouds, 20 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level rising to 1500 m.
WEDNESDAY: Morning clear skies and afternoon clouds, 20 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 20 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C.
No avalanches were observed on the weekend or Monday, besides some small loose avalanche out of steep terrain. The most recent persistent slab avalanche activity was on Friday, being triggered by explosives.
A few centimetres of snow overlies a melt-freeze crust in many areas, with the exception being on north aspects above around 1700 m. Wind slabs may still exist on northerly aspects at alpine and treeline elevations. On solar aspects and below the freezing level, the snow may moisten during the heat of the day.
Up to 50 cm of snow sits above a variety of old interfaces that formed in mid-February. There is 60 to 100 cm sitting on a persistent weak layer that was buried in late January. These interfaces are mostly made up of sugary faceted grains, hard wind pressed snow, feathery surface hoar in wind-sheltered locations, and a melt-freeze crust on steep solar aspects. Periodic avalanches continue to be triggered on these layers. Check out this MIN for photos of the positioning of the layers in the snowpack.
