Storm slabs will develop throughout the day and become increasingly reactive. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
A storm beginning in the morning will bring 20 to 30 cm of snow with extreme southerly winds. Storm slabs are going to develop quickly during the day and become increasingly reactive. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
Throughout the region, storm snow will cover a variety of surface conditions including a thick and supportive melt-freeze crust on all aspects and elevations, pockets of soft and hard wind slabs in exposed high elevation terrain and a sun crust or moist snow on solar aspects.
The prominent late-January crust is now down 20-60 cm and is well bonded to the surrounding snow. The mid and lower snowpack is considered well settled and strong.
Shallow snow cover at low elevations leaves many hazards like stumps and creeks exposed at or just below the snow surface.
A major weather pattern change takes place beginning this weekend. As the ridge of high pressure breaks down, this opens the door to a cascade of incoming Pacific weather systems.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Increasing cloudiness, no precipitation, 30-60 km/h southerly wind, treeline low temperature -6 C, freezing level at 700 m.
SATURDAY: Snow beginning in the morning, 20-30 cm, 70-90 km/h southerly wind, treeline high temperature +1 C, freezing level at 1200 m.
SUNDAY: Snow, 20-30 cm, 70-90 km/h southwesterly wind, treeline high temperature +3 C, freezing level at 1300 m.
MONDAY: Snow mixed with rain, 30-40 cm, 40-60 km/h southwesterly wind, treeline high temperature +4 C, freezing level at 1500 m.
No new avalanches were reported on Thursday. On Friday, the Avalanche Canada field team reported a small size 1 natural loose wet on a steep solar slope.
