Continued flurries with strong southwest winds are expected to create fresh wind slabs at upper elevations. Carefully evaluate conditions, avoid wind loaded areas, and seek out sheltered terrain for the best riding quality.
Triggering wind slab avalanches remains possible at higher elevations, especially on freshly wind-loaded terrain features.
New wind slabs are likely to form during periods of strong southwest winds that are expected this week and through the weekend.
We are uncertain about where the early-November crust has weak faceted grains above it, and if this layer remains as a problem.
Our limited information suggests this problem is more likely found around Pine Pass and the eastern slopes of the Rockies. Given our lack of field observations, the prudent choice is to approach any big open slope with caution, especially slopes that are rocky and have variable snowpack depths.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with flurries, 5-10 cm, with up to 15 cm expected near Pine Pass / southwest wind, 40-60 km/h / alpine low temperature near -9
THURSDAY - Mainly cloudy with flurries, 5-10 cm / southwest wind, 30-50 km/h / alpine high temperature near -7
FRIDAY - Flurries, 10-15 cm / southwest wind, 60-80 km/h / alpine high temperature near -2 / freezing level 1500 m
SATURDAY - Flurries, 5-10 cm / southwest wind, 60-80 km/h / alpine high temperature near -3 / freezing level 1700 m
There have been no recent avalanches reported in the region.
10-25 cm of recent new snow sits on previously wind affected snow at higher elevations, and on a crust between about 1300-1600 m. Sheltered areas at treeline may now have 15-45 cm of soft snow on the surface. Moderate to strong southwest winds will likely redistribute the new snow, forming wind slabs in the alpine and in open areas at treeline.
A widespread crust layer that may have sugary faceted grains above it can be found near the bottom of the snowpack. Uncertainty remains about if and where this layer is a problem. Recent observations from the McBride area suggest the snow is well-bonded to this crust. Observations from around Tumbler ridge suggest ongoing concern for this layer in this zone. I suspect the layer to be potentially reactive in northern parts of the region, such as Pine Pass, but do not have observations to back this up.
Snow depths are approximately 150 cm around Pine Pass, Torpy and McBride and around 100 cm in the northeast around Tumbler Ridge.
