Slabs may be triggerable by riders in wind-loaded features at upper elevations.
Early season hazards exist. A frozen crust may hold up rider or hiker, but stumps and rocks are barely buried.
Recent snow may be reactive where wind has loaded deeper deposits over a crust. These pockets are most likely found at upper elevations, in leeward terrain features such as ridgecrests and roll-overs.
No new avalanches were reported over the weekend.
On Saturday, north of Kamloops, the early December surface hoar layer was observed underneath a frozen crust. It was noted to be unreactive to the weight of a human. In rare places where the surface hoar still exists, and it is not covered by a hard crust, an avalanche may initiate surprisingly easily.
If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
15-35 cm of snow sits on a hard melt-freeze crust. Beneath the crust a spotty surface hoar layer may be found. The intense rain from earlier this week likely destroyed this layer, and if not, the crust may reduce the chance of triggering an avalanche on it.
The middle and base of the snowpack may still be moist from the rain, though weak, faceted grains could persist where the snowpack is dry.
Snowpack depths at treeline are approximately 50 to 80 cm. The snowpack tapers drastically below treeline.
Monday Night
Mostly clear. No new snow expected. Light variable wind. Treeline temperature around -5 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. No new snow expected. Light southerly ridgetop wind, increasing to moderate in the afternoon. Treeline temperature around -5 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. No new snow expected. Strong to extreme south or southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2°C, with a possible above freezing layer at high elevations.
Thursday
Cloudy. 10-15 cm of snow expected. Moderate northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -6°C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
