Sunny skies will make slopes look inviting, especially on northern aspects where conditions are still good. While north slopes seem appealing this is where the greatest uncertainty lies in triggering the deeper instabilities.
Below the recent snow is a 90-150 cm slab on the persistent mid-pack Jan/Feb facet layer. Concern exists on high northerly aspects where the March 27 raincrust capping the slab is weak, especially as temperatures warm.
The problem will develop over the day with solar input and warming temperatures.
One size 1 skier triggered surface slab on Mt. Field headwall. Otherwise, no new activity was reported today,
Surface crusts on all aspects to ~2800 m except north, where powder snow is found at higher elevations. On southerly aspects, the upper 30 cm contains several crusts. The most prominent crust is Mar 27, formed from rain last week, but we have yet to see avalanches on it.
Below this, 80 cm of firm snow overlies the Jan 30 facets, which are stronger in Little Yoho than further east but still show potential for propagation with sudden planar test results.
Progressively warmer with each day in the outlook.
Friday: Sunny skies, freezing levels climbing to 2100 m, light westerly wind, and alpine temperatures ~3C.
Saturday: Sunny skies and freezing levels climbing to 2300 m, light to moderate westerly wind
Sunday: Sunny and freezing levels climbing to 2500 m, light westerly wind
Monday - cloud and light flurries move back into the region.
