Uncertainty remains regarding a layer of facets 40 to 60 cm deep that is reactive at treeline and above. Several avalanches have failed on this layer over the past week.
20-40cm of recent snow, with sustained and continued moderate to strong winds, has formed widespread slabs at ridgetop and below.
A facet or facet/crust interface 30 to 70 cm down, formed in late January, has been the failure plane for several large avalanches in the region this week. We suspect this is predominantly a problem on south and west aspects, but we have limited information on its spatial distribution.
No new avalanches reported in the area.
A complex snowpack remains in the wake of the recent storm. A common pattern is a 40 to 60 cm slab poorly bonded to facets or a facet crust combination formed on Jan. 24. The distribution of this layer (its location) is difficult to pin down, and for now, we are concerned about all steep terrain, especially on SE through W aspects.
Friday: Mix of sun and cloud, with trace amounts of snow. Winds 30-40km/h from the west, and treeline temperatures rising to -3C (1900m freezing level)
Saturday: Strong winds from the West, trace amounts of snow, and freezing levels 2000m rising to 2400m.
Sunday: Strong to extreme winds with snow starting in the afternoon as a system enters our region.
