Consider the effect of the sun in your decision making on Saturday. Recent snow has fallen with very little wind. Slopes that stay out of the sun should have the best skiing, and lower avalanche danger.
Continued loading from new snow has formed storm slabs on all aspects. These have been more reactive where slabs sit on top of crusts or cold sugary crystals.
Continue to make conservative choices and give the storm snow time to settle and stabilize.
The first punch of sun after the storm could make storm slab avalanches more likely, use extra caution on slopes facing the sun.
With clearer skies forecasted across the region for Saturday, watch for the recent, loose snow to become more reactive as the sun warms the surface.
The recent snow came with very little wind, and the sun is starting to pack a bigger punch at this time of year. Small natural and rider triggered loose snow avalanches are likely.
General cooling and clearing trend with cold northern air providing good refreezes overnight, but upslope flow will continue to bring spotty cloud cover and bits of snowfall through the forecast period.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, clearing by the morning. 0-2 cm of snow expected, but unstable air could lead to localized heavier snowfall. Light east wind, trending to moderate north at higher elevations. Treeline low around -11 °C.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. No new snow expected. Light variable ridgetop wind, trending to moderate north at higher elevations. Freezing level rising to around 1300 m. Treeline high around -6 °C.
Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud. 0-3 cm of snow expected overnight, and a possible trace through the day. Light variable ridgetop wind, trending to moderate north at higher elevations. Treeline high around -5 °C.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Possible trace of snow expected. Light to moderate west ridgetop wind, trending to strong northwest at higher elevations. Freezing level rising to around 1300 m. Treeline higher around -3 °C.
On Friday, numerous natural, rider triggered, and explosive triggered dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported in the new storm snow.
On Thursday, small, loose dry avalanches were reported in the recent storm snow. Also, south of Crowsnest Pass, one size 2 explosive controlled avalanche was reported, starting as a storm slab, and getting larger as it entrained loose new snow lower on the slope.
20-35 cm of new snow fell with light winds overnight on Thursday and into Friday morning. A melt freeze crust may be present underneath this new snow, on all aspects, and reported as high as 2100 m.
Snowfall amounts have varied substantially since the start of the week with south of highway 3 receiving 30-50 cm and the north getting 10-20 cm. This fell as rain at lower elevations, so expect moist snow underneath the melt freeze crust.
The recent storm snow still needs time to bond to a variety of old surfaces such as firm wind-pressed snow, sun crust on solar aspects, and potentially weak, sugary crystals buried in late February.
The middle and lower snowpack are generally well consolidated, with a crust/facet layer from early December found near the ground. It is currently considered dormant but could become active later this season.
