Stick to conservative, low consequence slopes while the storm snow settles.
Human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible.
With increased load, the buried weak layers from early February (facets, surface hoar and crusts) in the upper metre of the snowpack will become more reactive, producing widely propagating avalanches.
Storm snow will remain reactive to human triggering. On slopes where wind loading is still occurring natural avalanches will be possible as well.
A natural avalanche cycle occurred on Wednesday and likely continued through Thursday but we have not received reports yet of activity on Thursday.
Several rider and remotely triggered avalanches occurred over the past few days. These avalanches occurred at treeline and in the alpine on northerly aspects. The remotely triggered avalanches failed on an early February weak layer.
By Thursday morning storm totals are expected to reach 30 to 60 cm. This snow will be accompanied by strong southwest wind, forming deeper deposits on north and east aspects. Windward slopes may be scoured back to an old crust.
Crust, facet and spotty surface hoar layers exist in the upper metre of the snowpack. These layers are most concerning at treeline and below, especially in inland areas where the snowpack is shallower.
Below, the remaining snowpack is generally well settled and bonded.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 4 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 5 cm of snow. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
