Expect firm conditions in the morning, softening with sun and warm temperatures throughout the day.
Wet avalanches become more likely on south facing slopes as the surface crust breaks down, and snow becomes wet and heavy.
Warm temperatures and sun throughout the day may soften the surface crust and weaken the upper snowpack.
Pay close attention to how thick and supportive the surface crust is throughout the day. Minimize your exposure to slopes with wet and heavy snow.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, moderate westerly winds. Freezing levels drop to valley bottom. Isolated flurries possible.
FRIDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with light to moderate southwest winds. Freezing levels around 1700 m. Alpine highs of +3.
SATURDAY: A mix of sun and cloud, light snowfall over the day brings up to 5 cm to western terrain. Freezing levels around 1500 m. Alpine highs of 0.
SUNDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Moderate to strong southwest winds. Freezing levels reach 1700. Alpine highs of +2.
On Wednesday loose wet avalanches were reported on south facing slopes at treeline and below to size 2.5.
On Tuesday, several size 2-3 wet avalanches were naturally triggered by sun, warm temperatures and cornice falls in western terrain near the Bugaboos, with some failing at the ground.
Avalanche activity is expected to decrease as temperatures cool and freezing levels drop.
Small pockets of wind loading may sit on north and east facing slopes in the alpine, more prominent in western terrain. A crust exists on all aspects as high as 2500 m, softening in the afternoon at all elevations with warm temperatures and sun creating moist surface snow. At very low elevations, the snowpack may be wet and isothermal, depending on overnight freezing levels.
At 30 to 75 cm below the snow surface, a sun crust can be found on solar aspects from March. The recent warm weather seems to have helped this layer bond.
A thick rain crust with facets above from early December is buried around 150 cm deep. Large avalanches were naturally triggered on this layer during the most recent warm temperatures in western terrain near the Bugaboos. Continued avalanche activity on this layer is unlikely with cooler temperatures forecast.
