Northwest Inland

Cold, dry conditions are expected to continue for the weekend. Pockets of lingering wind slabs may still exist in exposed alpine areas. New snow and wind on Monday will heighten avalanche danger.

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Ridge wind light southwest. Temperature -20. Freezing level surface.SUNDAY: Increasing cloud. Ridge wind light west. Temperature -20. Freezing level surface.MONDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation up to 5 cm. Ridge wind moderate southwest. Temperature -15. Freezing level surface.

A few small natural wind slabs were reported last weekend in steep south facing terrain west of Smithers. Wind slabs showed some reactivity to human triggers a week ago, but cold temperatures have likely made them difficult to trigger.

Surface snow has been affected by winds from a variety of directions. The degree of wind effect varies throughout the region, with the most dramatic winds associated with outflow conditions in western parts of the region near coastal inlets. Sheltered areas may still have 10-30 cm of powder from previous storms. A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found roughly 20 cm below the surface. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.The lower snowpack is generally well settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.For an update on recent conditions check out the Mountain Information Network (MIN) report here. And please submit your own observations to the MIN!