Another day with a stable weather pattern. Cooler, drier conditions will give way to a series of frontal systems impacting the region early in the week.
Recent snow combined with southwest winds is likely to be forming fresh wind slabs in the alpine and near ridgetops. At treeline, these slabs may be sitting on a recently buried weak layer of surface hoar.
SATURDAY: Cloudy with clear breaks, light wind from the northwest, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.
SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.
MONDAY: Mainly cloudy with flurries, moderate to strong southwest wind, alpine high temperatures around -9 C.
TUESDAY: Flurries, moderate southwest wind, alpine high temperatures around -7 C.
There have been no recent reports of avalanche activity.
10-20 cm of fresh snow may now sit on a concerning layer of surface hoar that has formed in areas sheltered from the wind (see photos in this MIN report). This is likely not enough snow to form a slab above, except in places where there are deeper wind deposits. Reports suggest this layer can be found on all aspects up into treeline. In the alpine, the new snow has buried hard wind slabs and/or sun crusts on south-facing terrain.
Snowpack depths are 50-100 cm in alpine areas around Smithers, with depths diminishing rapidly below 1500 m. The relatively thin snowpack has likely caused weak faceted snow to form near the ground.
