Reverse loading from moderate to strong north winds continues to build potential wind slabs on unusual aspects. Watch for reactivity on all aspects around ridge lines.
20-30 cm of snow and varied wind directions have built winds on all aspects. Seek out wind-sheltered terrain where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
On Monday, a MIN from the Sun Peaks area reported a size 1 skier accidental avalanche in sparse trees. The slab consists of the recent wind-affected storm snow and looked to be 30 cm deep.
Please submit a Mountain Information Network report if you are heading to the backcountry!
20 - 30 cm of snow has been redistributed by southwest winds and has formed soft wind slabs in lees at higher elevations. As winds switch to the north watch for reverse loading and cross-loading in the surface slab. On south-facing slopes this snow sits on a sun crust and in sheltered terrain, it sits over a layer of weak surface hoar.
Buried 40 to 60cm deep, a layer of surface hoar, crust, and faceted crystals is a layer of concern. Observations are limited in this region but this layer has already produced avalanches in the neighboring regions.
Snowpack depths at upper treeline is around 80 - 100 cm.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy skies. Northerly ridge wind 20 - 40 km/hr. Alpine temperatures, high of -8. Freezing levels valley bottom.
Thursday
Partly cloudy skies. Northerly ridge winds 20-30 km/h gusting to 40 km/hr. Alpine temperatures, high of -6. Freezing levels valley bottom.
Friday
Partly cloudy skies. Northwesterly ridge winds 40-60 km/h gusting to 80 – 90 km/h. Possible alpine inversion, temperatures reach a high of -2. Freezing levels valley bottom.
Saturday
Cloudy skies. Light flurries, 2 cm accumulation. Northeasterly ridge winds 30-50 km/h gusting to 40. Alpine temperatures, high of -6. Freezing levels valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
