While signs of buried weak layers may be hard to find, they continue to produce avalanches.
Be especially cautious on high north and east facing slopes, as well as steep slopes in the sun.
Several persistent weak layers exist, with the most problematic ones lying 30 to 60 cm deep. These layers remain a concern where there is no thick, supportive crust near the surface.
Wet loose avalanches will become possible in steep terrain if the sun is out for prolonged periods. Avoid overhead hazard from sun-exposed slopes, especially if the snow surface is moist or wet.
Thurs: One person was buried in an avalanche in Pedley Pass, just east of the forecast area. See details about that avalanche and a few nearby in these MINs.
Wed: Numerous, small natural and human triggered dry loose avalanches were reported in steep terrain, as well as a few small rider and explosive triggered slab avalanches.
Tues: Several small to large natural persistent slab avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported, with some being triggered by falling cornice chunks.
The upper snowpack is currently quite variable on different aspects, and across the forecast area. 5 to 10 cm of recent snow is settling over a widespread melt-freeze crust that exists everywhere but north-facing slopes above 2000 m. In wind sheltered areas it may have buried a layer of up to 10 mm, weak, feathery surface hoar.
A couple of weak layers consisting of a crust, facets or surface hoar from February and January remain a concern, buried 30 to 60 cm.
Additionally, a layer of facets from early December is buried 70 to 120 cm. In many areas, facets or depth hoar exist at the base of the snowpack. These deeper layers are not currently creating an avalanche problem.
Friday Night
Mainly clear. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, up to 3 cm in the alpine. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2000 m through the day.
Sunday
Mainly cloudy with snow beginning in the afternoon, up to 5 cm. 20 to 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1800 m.
Monday
Mainly cloudy with up to 15 cm of snow overnight. 15 to 25 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
