Stormy conditions continue to create dangerous avalanche conditions. Best to keep things simple and avoid high-consequence terrain.
Continued snow and strong wind will likely build slabs and load a weak surface hoar layer. Where the weak layer exists, it could be remotely triggered and a resulting fracture could propagate far.
Riders remotely triggered a couple large avalanches from 200 m away near Barkerville on the weekend. A similar avalanche was observed near Valemount last week. These avalanches speak to the propagation potential of the buried weak layer described in the Snowpack Summary, where it exists within the terrain.
Human-triggered avalanches remain likely as stormy conditions continue to form slabs and load the buried weak layer.
Around 20 to 50 cm of snow accumulated since Friday, with another 5 to 15 cm expected by Tuesday afternoon. The snow fell with strong southerly wind, forming deeper deposits in leeward terrain features.
Around 50 to 100 cm deep, a preserved layer of surface hoar may be found in openings around treeline. The distribution of this layer appears to be widespread south of Highway 16 and spottier north of the highway. Where it exists, the layer has the likelihood of forming widely-propagating avalanches that can be remotely triggered. Beneath this layer, a hard melt-freeze crust from mid-November may be found.
Snow depths at treeline average 100 to 150 cm and decrease rapidly at lower elevations.
Monday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow with local amounts up to 20 cm possible. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with afternoon clearing. 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with afternoon clearing. 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
