New snow, wind and buried persistent weak layers are creating dangerous avalanche conditions.
Stick to low-angle slopes free from overhead hazard.
Further snowfall and wind continue to add stress to buried weak layers. Facets, surface hoar, and crusts in the snowpack may become more reactive and have the potential to produce very large, destructive avalanches. Read more here
Ongoing snowfall and strong winds continue to produce widespread storm slabs. Expect larger and more reactive slabs in wind-loaded terrain on all aspects.
A natural avalanche cycle occurred over the past 72 hours with widespread avalanches up to size 3.5 being reported throughout the region. Natural avalanche activity will taper off as the temperatures drop on Saturday night.
Natural avalanche activity remains likely as additional snowfall and strong winds continue to add load and stress to the snowpack.
Up to 100 cm of snow has fallen in the past week, with strong south-west winds redistributing the snow into wind slabs on north and east aspects at alpine and treeline elevations.
Since early February, new snow has buried (and continues to load) a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar, facets, and crusts. This weak layer is most likely in wind-sheltered terrain and is buried roughly 90 to 180 cm deep.
Below this layer, the remaining snowpack is generally well settled and well bonded.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
