There is still a high potential for rider triggered persistent slab avalanches. The sun may increase the likelihood of natural avalanches in the warmest part of the day.
Wind switching directions has formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects. If triggered, wind slabs could step down to deeper layers.
A weak layer of faceted grains above a crust buried 70 to 140 cm deep is a recipe for large, high-consequence avalanches. Remote triggering is an ongoing concern and means the layer is still primed for human triggering.
Large and very large rider, natural and explosives triggered persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported throughout the region. Some avalanches have run full path to valley bottom. Many human triggered avalanches have been remotely triggered (from a distance).
Last Sunday a fatal avalanche incident occurred north of Revelstoke. It was size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a northeast aspect at 2000 m. View the report.
A crust could be found on steep south and west facing terrain and will likely become moist with solar input. Wind slab may be found on north and east facing slopes.
50 to 120 cm overlies a layer of surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, weak facets, or a hard melt-freeze crust on south and west-facing slopes.
A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 80 to 160 cm deep and extends up to 2400 m. This crust may have a layer of facets above it.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear. 10 to 20 km/h west and northwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -14°C.
Thursday
Mainly sunny. 15 to 35 km/h west and northwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -8°C.
Friday
Mainly cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -4°C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with 3 to 8 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -3°C. Freezing level 1300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
