The snowpack remains primed for human triggering, and conservative terrain selection remains critical. Use extra caution around sun-exposed slopes during the heat of the day.
Two surface hoar layers can be found in the top meter of the snowpack in sheltered terrain. Recent snowfall, wind, sun, and warming will add stress to these layers, and they may become reactive.
Storm slabs sit on a weak interface and are expected to be sensitive to human triggering. Deeper deposits of wind-transported snow may exist in leeward and cross-loaded terrain, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
No new avalanches were reported on Friday, but observations were very limited.
On Thursday, several natural and human-triggered avalanches were reported up to size 2. The most significant ones were remotely triggered from up to 200 m away.
Over the past few days, up to 50 cm of new storm snow accompanied by strong southerly wind hit the region. Wind-transported snow has likely built deeper slabs on northerly aspects at upper elevations. Lower elevation snow may be crusty as freezing levels fall.
The upper metre of the snowpack is complicated. This snow sits above several significant weak layers that formed during the January and February dry spells. These include facets, surface hoar (in sheltered terrain), and crust on solar aspects.
A layer of facets on top of a crust from early December is buried 100 to 200 cm deep. This layer is generally not a concern in this region.
Saturday Night
Cloudy with light flurries. 10 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures +1. Freezing level 1200 m.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures +2. Freezing level 1400 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures +2. Freezing level 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
