The storm may have passed but dangerous avalanche conditions persist. The snowpack is primed for human triggering. Conservative decision-making remains critical.
Buried weak layers remain very sensitive to human triggering and could result in very large avalanches. It is possible to trigger these layers remotely and avalanches have the potential to run full path, so watch your overhead exposure.
Recent snow accompanied by strong wind has formed touchy slabs that may sit over a weak layer. These slabs will remain very reactive to human triggering going into the weekend and have the potential to travel full path.
The bottom of the snowpack remains generally weak and untrustworthy, especially at higher elevations where a protective crust above may not exist.
Numerous natural, skier, and explosive-triggered avalanches up to size 3 have been reported in the past few days throughout the region. All avalanches slid on layers in the upper snowpack.
While natural activity may begin to taper off going into the weekend, human triggering is expected to remain a serious problem.
Up to 60 cm of new snow has fallen in the past 2 days and over 1 m has accumulated in the past week. This new snow has formed touchy slabs, especially in wind-exposed terrain.
The new snow has also buried a weak layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February which remains reactive.
A widespread crust formed in early February is buried roughly 70 to 120 cm deep and extends up to 2400 m. Facets have been found above this crust. This layer has produced many concerning avalanches across the province.
The mid and lower snowpack is largely faceted with depth hoar and a crust found at the bottom of the snowpack in many areas.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy. 10 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with 0 to 3 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Sunday
Partly cloudy. 0 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Monday
Mix of sun and cloud. 0 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
