Choose conservative low consequence terrain and give the storm snow time to settle out.
Storm slabs may increase in size and likelihood throughout the day. They will be largest and most reactive where wind loading is a factor.
A couple small cornices failed naturally near Fernie in the past couple days.
On Tuesday, several small, loose wet avalanches were rider-triggered on sunny slopes.
20 to 40 cm of new snow overlies a crust formed in mid March on all aspects except higher elevation north facing terrain where surface hoar may be present. The snow surface will become moist at lower elevations.
Numerous sun crusts exist in the upper snowpack on east through west aspects.
A widespread crust with facets above is buried up to 180 cm deep. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the places where it may still be possible to trigger this layer.
Thursday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of new snow. 10 to 30 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -4°C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 10 to 30 km/h southwest alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 30 km/h west alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. 20 to 30 km/h north alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
