Continuously assess conditions as you gain elevation.
Rider triggerable storm slabs could be found at higher elevations where forecasted precipitation is likely to fall as snow.
Another frontal system could build new storm slabs at higher elevations throughout the day. The largest and most reactive slabs will likely be found on northerly aspects.
A natural avalanche cycle took place overnight on December 17th. In the alpine storm slab avalanches up to size 2 were observed and at lower elevations wet loose avalanches up to size 1.5 were observed.
If you are going out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN)
By early morning on the 18th up to 70 mm of precipitation fell in less than 24 hours. The majority of this precipitation fell as rain, saturating the upper snowpack. In the alpine some of this precipitation fell as snow and was accompanied by strong southerly winds forming deep deposits on northerly aspects and scouring windward slopes.
A prominent crust is down 60 to 100 cm on sheltered features at treeline. This crust may be on the surface in exposed terrain.
Check out this great MIN from the Sky Pilot area.
Snow depths taper substantially below 1000 m.
Wednesday Night
Mix of clear skies and cloud. 15 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 10 to 30 mm of rain expected. 40 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2300 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with up to 35 mm of rain by early morning. 30 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 2800 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy with up to 20 mm of rain. 30 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 2800 m in the morning and falling to 1800 m during the day.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
