Storm snow has added load to a complex upper snowpack creating dangerous avalanche conditions.
Step-down avalanches are possible, stick to conservative terrain with no overhead hazard.
Weak layers in the upper snowpack of surface hoar/crust/facets continues to be loaded by new snow. A recent report of a very large persistent slab avalanche is proof that weak layers deeper in the upper snowpack remain a concern.
Recent storm snow up to 30 cm has added load to a complex upper snowpack. Storm slab avalanches could step down to deeper weak layers described in the snowpack summary.
On Monday, A size 3 skier remote avalanche was reported that occurred in the Qua area near Nelson.
Several Mountain Information Network posts describe human-triggered slab avalanches failing on crusts and/or surface hoar layers down roughly 30 cm.
Looking forward, weak layers described in the snowpack summary are likely to remain sensitive.
20 to 25 cm of storm snow has buried a complex upper snowpack. This region is highly variable with similar weak layers that vary widely in depth and distribution:
On February 13th a surface hoar layer and/or a crust on solar aspects was buried.
On February 7th a surface hoar layer/crust layer (depending on aspect) was buried.
On January 26th, a surface hoar/crust layer sitting on a facet layer was buried and is down 60 to 80 cm.
This weak snowpack structure will continue to produce avalanches as storm snow settles.
The mid and lower snowpack remain well settled.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear skies. 1 cm of snow. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Friday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
