Human-triggered avalanches are likely.
Choose conservative terrain and regroup in safe spots.
Buried weak layers from early March, mid February, and late January can still be triggered, particularly at upper treeline and alpine elevations. Storm slab avalanches could step down to these layers, forming very large avalanches.
Expect to find reactive storm slabs where more than 25 cm of new snow has fallen. Storm slabs will be bigger and more reactive in wind loaded features.
On Wednesday a very large (size 3) and two large (size 2) naturally triggered wind slabs were reported on north and east aspects in the alpine. Several other slabs were triggered by explosive control work in the region. On Tuesday five size 3 natural avalanches were reported, two were triggered by cornice failures. Numerous size 2 natural and human-triggered avalanches were also reported.
Large human-triggered avalanches continue to remain likely.
Up to 50 cm of new snow has fallen since Monday. A crust can be found on slopes exposed to the sun at or near the surface.
Three persistent weak layers consisting of surface hoar and/or facets are found in the middle of the snowpack. The early March layer is between 80 and 150 cm down. The mid-February layer is between 90 and 170 cm deep and a layer from late January is down around 200 cm. In lower elevations, these layers sit over a crust.
Below this, the snowpack is well settled.
Thursday night
Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
