Although wind slabs are the main concern, keep avoiding shallow areas at treeline, where a persistent slab can still be triggered.
20-35 cm + of low-density snow will remain available for wind transport throughout the day Tuesday, building reactive wind slabs on alpine features and open areas at treeline. Expected developing wind slabs on slopes that have not seen wind-affected snow during the last storm.
A layer of weak facets (sugary snow) can be found down 60-150 cm near a crust layer that formed in early December. Although this persistent weak layer hasn't recently shown reactivity where it is buried one meter deep, there is still a potential for a high consequence scenario, if ever triggered. Avoid likely trigger spots such as steep, convex slopes, with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack, especially at treeline elevations.
An Arctic ridge of high pressure will continue to build from the Yukon into the B.C interior bringing clear skies and cold conditions across the province with outflow winds through Tuesday. Abundant moisture from the Pacific will invade the province starting on Wednesday morning.
MONDAY NIGHT: Clear skies / Strong northwest wind / Low of -16
TUESDAY: Increasing cloudiness / Strong southwest wind / High of -13 / Snow starting in the evening 5-10 cm
WEDNESDAY: Snow, heavy at time 15-30 cm / Strong to extreme southwest wind / High -8
THURSDAY: Flurries 5 cm/ Moderate west wind / High of -12
A widespread natural cycle of storm slabs were observed at all elevations/ aspects on most steep features during the last storm, including a few large wind slabs avalanches (size 2) as well as numerous loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5.
On Sunday, a skier-triggered size 2 was reported on a North aspect at 1850 m in the Monashee. This avalanche occurred on the early December crust/facet combo. The avalanche was triggered from a steep shallow rocky area beside a cliff feature.
If you go out, make sure to report any observations on the Mountain Information Network.
Recent 20-35 cm of low-density snow can be found throughout the region, with significant amounts (up to 50 cm) in the northeast corner. Shifting winds have formed fresh wind slabs in isolated open areas at treeline and above. Many sluff were skier-triggered in low-density snow on steep slopes.
Below the new snow, the defining feature of the snowpack is a widespread crust that reaches as high as 2400 m and now sits 60-150 cm below the surface.
In some places, overlying snow is well-bonded to the crust but in others, weak faceted grains have been observed above it. The faceting is most prominent at treeline where the crust is thinner. The crust seems to begin to decompose, while snow profile tests are giving sporadic results.
