Its heating up! Strong sun and high freezing levels are forecast for Sunday, expect the snowpack to deteriorate in the heat
Challenging/variable riding exists on all slopes that face the sun and on all aspects tree line and below.
The settled storm slab is bonding poorly to the crust below. Use extra caution near ridge crests and lee features, where deeper wind deposits will be more reactive. Natural avalanches will be possible on solar aspects when the spring sun shines!
Loose snow avalanches may be triggered by the strong spring sun in steep/rocky terrain.
There were a few large (up to size 2.5) avalanches observed in the highway corridor from steep unsupported terrain in recent days.
The storm slab is bonded poorly to the crust below and reports of remotely triggered avalanches are still coming in throughout the region.
Thursday, a field team observed two remotely triggered size 1 storm slabs above the Bonney Moraines on E aspects, failing on the Apr 9th crust.
In the Alpine and Tree-line, 20-30cm of heavy moist snow sits over a firm crust on any slope that faces the sun. Dry snow may be found on high North facing slopes
At tree line the snow depth is at a record low of around 220cm. The Feb 3rd crust/facet layer persists at upper elevations, buried down 80-140cm.
Below treeline the snowpack is going through its typical spring melt/freeze cycle, firm in the morning then breaking down and becoming isothermal with daily warming.
A brief ridge of high pressure sets up for the weekend giving clear skies and warm temps.
Tonight: Clear with cloudy periods. Nil precip, freezing level(FZL) 2300m
Sun: Mix sun/cloud. High 4 °C, FZL 2600m. Gusty SW wind 15-40.
Mon: Cloudy w sunny periods & isolated flurries. High -1 °C. FZL 2200m. Wind west 20-35 km/hr.
Tues: Flurries amounting to 7cm. Wind N 10-25km/hr. FZL 1400m
