Avalanche conditions are generally safe. A few things to keep in mind as you travel are the potential for isolated cornice failures and small wet loose avalanches on sun-exposed slopes.
Depending on the timing of the incoming cloud cover on Thursday, strong March solar radiation still has the potential to create wet loose avalanches on sunny slopes.
A naturally triggered size 1.5 wind slab avalanche was reported on a west aspect at treeline on Monday.
Several naturally triggered size 1-1.5 wet loose avalanches were reported on sunny aspects at upper elevations.
A large (size 2.5) rider-triggered wind slab was reported on a north aspect in the alpine on Friday. The avalanche was triggered from the ridge top and the reported weak layer was surface hoar. See MIN.
The snow surface includes a crust on solar aspects, surface hoar up to 10 mm in shady and wind-sheltered areas, faceting snow on polar aspects, and wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain.
30-50 cm down there is a sun crust on sunny aspects and surface hoar (3-5 mm) on isolated shady and sheltered slopes.
Another layer of surface hoar or sun crust, aspect dependent, that was formed in mid-February can be found down 80 to 110 cm.
The lower snowpack includes a layer of weak sugary facets near the ground. These facets are slowly gaining strength and no recent avalanches have been reported on this layer. However, we continue to track the layer and watch for any signs of it becoming active.
Wednesday night
Clear. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -5 °C. Ridge wind light from the southwest. Freezing level at valley bottom. Alpine temperature inversion.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud with flurries, up to 10 cm accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 2 °C. Ridge wind 10 to 30 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 1800 metres.
Friday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -2 °C. Ridge wind 10 to 35 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 1300 metres.
Saturday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -7 °C. Ridge wind 10 to 30 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 1100 metres.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
