Storm slab size and reactivity to triggers will increase as the new snow piles up this weekend.
Fall back to simple terrain as conditions worsen.
New snow continues to form reactive slabs, especially in zones that receive 25 cm or more of recent snowfall. Approach wind affected terrain like ridgelines, mid slope rolls and crossloaded features with extra caution.
On Thursday
A naturally triggered size 2.5 avalanche was observed in the Northern Cariboos.
On Wednesday
Numerous loose dry sluffs out of extreme terrain were observed southwest of Valemount. They were up to size 2 and likely triggered by wind or sun.
Looking forward: The likelihood of both human and natural-triggered avalanches is expected to rise as storm snow accumulates on Saturday.
Recent snow amounts vary across the region: Between 10 and 30 cm. An additional 10 to 15 cm is expected in the region by Saturday afternoon.
Combined, this snow may be building reactive storm slabs. Recent winds have built deeper and more reactive slabs on lee slopes near ridgetops.
The prominent mid-December crust is buried up to 110 cm deep and extends to 2200 m. Several weak layers persist in the lower snowpack, but concern is limited to higher-elevation terrain where the crust above is absent. Triggering the crust is considered unlikely, except with large loads or in thin snowpack areas.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
