Caution still advised in Portal/Whistler Creek as persistent slab still a concern. Intense solar radiation and rising freezing levels on the weekend may act as a trigger.
Weather Forecast
Cool and clear on friday with light winds and no precipitation. Skis remain clear until Sunday with the freezing level increasing to 2500 m by the end of the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is generally shallow and poorly consolidated, significant variation exists within the forecasting area. Test results in Portal Crk , 15th, showed mod-hard results dwn 60cm on facets 2-3mm with a sudden planar character. This layer could be trigger from thin areas. Alpine windslab on lee slopes and melt/freeze crust below Treeline.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Friday
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.