Rising freezing levels and sunshine will increase the likelihood of avalanches in many areas. Avoid exposure to cornices and steep sun-exposed slopes.
Pay attention to the pattern of wind-drifting in the terrain where you are traveling and watch for cracking or changes in snow stiffness. Wind slabs are expected to be most prevalent in the north of the region.
Cornices weaken significantly when exposed to sun and warm temperatures. When they fail, they can have enough mass to be very destructive, and they can also trigger slab avalanches on the slopes below them.
Warm temperatures and sunshine are expected to create prime conditions for wet loose avalanches. Solar aspects will be the most likely trigger areas, but warm temperatures could potentially cause wet loose avalanches on all aspects, especially at lower elevations.
This problem is expected to be most pronounced in the south of the region, however it is a concern in the north as well.
FRIDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with clear periods / light to moderate southwest wind / alpine low temperature near -2 / freezing level 1300 m
SATURDAY - Mainly sunny / moderate southwest wind / alpine high temperature near 3 in the south, -1 in the north / freezing level 2500 m in the south, 2000 m in the north
SUNDAY - Mainly sunny with increasing cloud and a chance of flurries in the afternoon / alpine high temperature near 1 in the south, -2 in the north / freezing level 2300 m in the south, 1700 m in the north
MONDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / light variable wind / alpine high temperature near -3 / freezing level 1500 m
Sunshine and rising freezing levels are expected to increase the likelihood of avalanches and cornice failures on Saturday. This trend is expected to be the most pronounced in the south of the region where freezing levels are expected to be higher than in the north.
On Thursday, there was a natural size 2.5 wind slab avalanche reported on a southwest aspect at 2200 m in the Duffey Lake area. There was also a natural size 2 cornice reported in the Coquihalla area.
Wind slabs can be found on leeward slopes at upper elevations and may still be possible to trigger. Solar aspects likely have a crust on the surface, which may become moist/wet with exposure to sun and rising freezing levels. Soft, dry snow may be found in sheltered, shaded areas. Massive cornices exist on ridgelines, which can also act as triggers on slopes below.
In the north of the region, a weak layer of facets buried in mid-February may still be found on north aspects near treeline but has been gaining strength. The lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.
In the south of the region, the mid and lower snowpack is generally well consolidated with no concerns of buried weak layers.
