New snow & wind may form reactive new storm slabs.
Recent avalanche activity and snowpack tests indicate the persistent weak layer remains triggerable.
A persistent weak layer is buried 80 to 130 cm deep and has produced numerous recent avalanches. This layer remains a concern where there is no thick, supportive crust under the new snow.
Storm slabs are expected to develop overnight and through Wednesday. Due to southwesterly winds, the most reactive slabs will likely be found on lee north and easterly slopes near ridgetops.
Sun: Several small skier-triggered and natual wet loose avalanches, and one natural size 2 slab occurred.
Sat: Explosives control near Fernie yielded several persistent slabs sized 2 - 2.5 with crowns up to 100 cm deep.
Fri: A natural size 3 was reported in the Little Sand area - likely a persistent slab.
Thu: The field team saw several persistent slabs in Corbin.
Up to 20 cm of new snow may fall overnight and through Wednesday morning, with highest amounts forecast for the Lizard Range. This new snow will build storm slabs and southwesterly winds will likely build the most reactive slabs on lee north and easterly slopes. The new snow will be falling on a widespread melt-freeze crust that exists up to around 1900 m and on all sun-affected slopes. A weak layer of preserved surface hoar or facets from late January is buried 80 to 130 cm. This weak layer was active during the warmup and remains a concern where there is no thick, supportive crust under the new snow. The lower snowpack is generally well-settled.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, highest amounts in the Lizard Range. 20 to 35 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1500 m falling to valley bottom. Treeline temperature low of -5 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow, highest amounts in the Lizard Range, clearing in the afternoon. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1600 m. Treeline temperature around -4 °C.
Thursday
Sunny. 15 - 25 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1700 m. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.
Friday
Sunny. 10 to 15 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1800 m. Treeline temperature around -1 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
