Coquihalla

Conditions are tricky despite the moderate danger rating and sunny weather.

A persistent weak layer and wind slabs remain a concern.

• The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
• Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
• Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
• Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.

Skiers reported seeing multiple slides they suspected were a couple of days old in the Thar Peak area off the Coquihalla on Friday. Several loose dry sluffs size 1 to 1.5 were also reported. Otherwise, no avalanches have been reported since last weekend.

Looking forward, we expect naturally triggered avalanches to be unlikely, but human triggering to remain possible.

Wind effect has been extensive, and wind slabs can be found on various aspects extending well into treeline features. Up to 5 cm of new snow that fell Friday night is adding to 20 to 60 cm of old storm snow overlying a weak layer that developed in late January. In many areas, this layer consists of a hard crust. However, on shady, upper-elevation slopes, the new snow may be resting on faceted grains or surface hoar. A crust from December is buried 80 to 120 cm deep and may have facets around it in shallow areas. Otherwise, the lower snowpack is well consolidated.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy. 5 to 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -13 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -13 °C

Monday

Sunny. 40 to 50 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -16 °C

Tuesday

Sunny. 25 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -20 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.