Rising freezing levels increase the likelihood of avalanches.
Be extra cautious if the surface snow is wet.
A weak layer of surface hoar is underneath the new snow. Storm slabs could be easy to trigger in areas with 20 cm or more on this layer.
January 30
Numerous natural, human triggered, and explosive triggered avalanches have been reported throughout the region. All occurring on the mid-January buried surface hoar/facet/crust layer.
January 29
Several human triggered small storm slabs over the layer of surface hoar and crust from mid-January were reported just east of this region. Some remote triggered avalanches were reported where surface hoar is buried 20 cm or more.
15 to 25 cm of snow sits over a surface hoar and crust layer. This new snow will be accompanied by southwest winds, meaning that the crust will likely remain on the surface on southerly aspects while deeper deposits will be found on north and east aspects. The surface hoar is largest in sheltered treeline and below treeline features.
The mid and lower snowpack is well settled.
Check out this MIN from the Big White area for more details.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
Sunday
Cloudy. 1 to 3 mm of precipitation. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 mm of rain. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
