Light snow and wind continue to form fresh slabs at higher elevations.
Any small avalanche in bigger terrain could step down to deeper layers and produce very large avalanches.
Small amounts of new snow continue to accumulate and could be redistributed by winds at higher elevations, forming reactive wind slabs. Older wind slabs from a recent strong wind event may persist on steep slopes just below the surface.
A weak layer buried in late January may remain reactive in isolated areas. Its distribution is uncertain, but it is most likely to be triggered on large slopes, where small surface avalanches could step down to the layer.
On Tuesday, a large (size 3.5) avalanche was observed just south of Highway 16. While visibility was limited, it is suspected that the avalanche failed on a persistent weak layer and ran full path (~1km).
Over the weekend, evidence of a large avalanche cycle was reported in the Blue River area, initiated by stormy conditions late last week and strong solar effects over the weekend, up to size 4.
Roughly 10 to 20 cm of new snow continues to accumulate over previously wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain, over a thin sun crust on south-facing slopes, and on moist or crusty surfaces at lower elevations.
A layer buried in late January, consisting of surface hoar, facets, and/or crust, exists roughly 80 to 150 cm below the surface.
The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated, with no significant layers of concern.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 70 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
