Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Sea To Sky.
Avalanche activity is possible on steep solar aspects if the sun peeks out.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Light snow. Moderate southerly winds. Freezing level near 1700 m.SATURDAY: Moderate snow. Light winds. Freezing level near 1800 m.SUNDAY: Light snow. Light winds. Freezing level near 1400 m.Click here for more information in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Avalanche Summary
Skiers triggered two large persistent slabs on Wednesday. One was reported as a size 3, 50-200 cm deep. Several loose wet avalanches were observed on steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow and wind are combining to create new slabs. Cornices are reported to be large and fragile. New snow will overlie various old surfaces including previous storm snow, melt freeze crusts on sunny aspects, scoured old hard wind slabs and dry snow.A weak layer consisting of surface hoar, facets or a sun crust buried in late March is now down about 60-80 cm. This is patchy in its distribution, but is still producing sporadic large avalanches. It is mostly likely to be problematic on shady aspects between 1900m and 2250m.The mid and lower snowpack are strong and well settled.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.