8:00AM PST UPDATE: A storm arriving today will bring snow and wind.
Watch out for reactive storm slabs and use caution as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Triggering a deep persistent slab remains possible, especially in areas with a thin snowpack.
Much of our region will receive significant wind and some new snow throughout the day today. Watch for the building storm slabs and be mindful of wind-loaded pockets in exposed terrain.
Where the new snow is not wind-affected, make sure to watch out for dry loose avalanches in extreme terrain.
We continue to receive reports of large deep persistent slab avalanches, failing on facets (weak sugary crystals) near the base of the snowpack. Although triggering an avalanche on these deeply buried layers is unlikely, the result would be a large destructive avalanche.
Avoid shallow areas, and steep, rocky start zones.
Today's storm is expected to increase avalanche activity.
On Thursday a size 3 deep persistent slab avalanche occurred naturally near Kispiox. It was on a steep, alpine feature, failing near rocks at ridgecrest. On Wednesday at Hudson Bay Mountain, a size 2.5 deep persistent slab avalanche was triggered by a cornice fall. Several size 2-3 explosive-controlled deep persistent slab avalanches also occurred near Ningunsaw.
If you go into the backcountry this weekend, please consider submitting a MIN report.
New snow today will be sitting on a variety of surfaces, primarily wind slabs. In sheltered areas, today's storm snow will be covering snow that fell this past weekend and that snow may be sitting on small facets found 40 to 50 cm down.
Several crusts, layers of facets, or surface hoar can be found in the top 150 cm of the snowpack. This mid-pack is generally showing good strength.
Throughout the region, much of the base of the snowpack consists of weak facets but is slowly gaining strength
The total height of snow at treeline is between 160 to 280 cm.
Tuesday Night
Increasing cloud, trace accumulation, winds west 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -12 ºC.
Wednesday
Cloudy, 15 to 25 cm accumulation starting in the early morning hours, winds southwest 35 km/h gusting to 70, treeline temperatures hovering around -12 ºC.
Thursday
Cloudy with possible late day sunny breaks, 10 to 15 cm accumulation arriving mostly by morning, winds 25 km/h gusting to 70, treeline temperatures -10 to -5 ºC.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud, 2 cm accumulation, winds southwest 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -10 ºC.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
