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Backcountry Avalanche advisory

As of Wednesday, March 7 Alpine: HIGH Treeline: CONSIDERABLE Below Treeline: MODERATE Travel Advisory: Severe winter weather in the alpine is reshaping things.

As of Wednesday, March 7

Alpine: HIGH

Treeline: CONSIDERABLE

Below Treeline: MODERATE

Travel Advisory: Severe winter weather in the alpine is reshaping things. Large drift formation and rapid loading are expected to continue as heavy precipitation and strong winds are forecast through the weekend.

Avalanche Activity: Cornice control conducted during the week produced a variety of small to large cornice falls. There were isolated pockets of windslab and loose surface sluffs that were being triggered by skier traffic on Tuesday. Mild temperatures on Wednesday should give way to cooler conditions through the rest of the week with continued wind and heavy precipitation. Expect slab avalanches in lee terrain as well as natural cornice activity.

Snowpack: The forecast weather is expected to add several new layers of wind affected slab and drifting over last week’s surface. Within last week's storm snow you will find a variety of layers that reflect the different wind conditions associated with each small snowfall event. The easy shears we were seeing early in the week have tightened in, and the current warming temperatures should help the settlement process. In some areas, hard shears on the Feb. 5 crust are persisting. This buried layer should be considered as a potential weakness, particularly given a sudden load like a cornice fall or the forecast heavy new snow load.

Weather: Continued winter conditions with strong winds and heavy precipitation are expected through the weekend.

– Blackcomb Snow Safety