Crust recovery is a bit uncertain for Saturday, but it's mainly a travel conditions concern. Lingering cornices are the main hazard to avoid.
Large cornices still loom over many ridgelines and they won't hang on forever. Be aware of these overhead hazards and stay well back from overhanging cornices on ridgelines.
A cornice-triggered slab avalanche was observed from a distance on Overlord Mountain on Wednesday. It happened on a northwest aspect at 2400 m.
After last weekend's warmup, several additional natural wet loose avalanches up to size 2.5 were observed in the Whistler area Monday, focused on west aspects above 2000 m. Ski cutting produced several size 1.5 releases. Similar wet loose activity, though smaller in both number and size, has been reported through the week.
Cloud and light rain may combat crust recovery on Saturday, possibly keeping or moving the snowpack below 2000 m closer to an isothermal state. This follows recent melt-freeze cycling surface conditions on the region's well settled snowpack. Rain may finally warm the 10 - 20 cm of windblown dry snow hiding on the region's higher north-facing slopes.
A crust/facet layer from late March sits 20 to 80 cm deep and another thick crust sits 80-100 cm deep. Near Whistler, some facets have been reported around the deeper crust. Neither layer is an avalanche problem right now, but they perhaps give cornices from high north aspects a slim chance of triggering a slab, like the one observed on Overlord Mountain Wednesday.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy with isolated showers, less than 1 mm. 15 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, 1 to 2 mm. 5 to 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature falling from 5 °C to 3 °C. Freezing level dropping from 2500 m to 2100 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, less than 1 mm. 10 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline high temperature 5 °C. Freezing level to 2300 m.
Monday
Cloudy with scattered showers becoming wet flurries, less than 5 mm with trace alpine snow accumulation. 20 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline high temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
