Northerly winds may reverse-load features. Watch for fresh slabs around ridges and lee features.
Arctic air may bring increased northerly wind at ridgetop and reverse-load previously wind-affected features. Seek out wind-sheltered terrain where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
On Wednesday, two size 1 slab avalanches were triggered by skiers.
On Monday, a MIN from the Sun Peaks area reported a size 1 skier accidental avalanche in sparse trees. The slab consists of the recent wind-affected storm snow and looked to be 30 cm deep.
Please submit a Mountain Information Network report if you are heading to the backcountry!
20-30 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by southwest winds at higher elevations. Forecasted northerly winds may reverse-load features and build fresh slabs. Now down 20-30 cm, this recent snow covers a crust on solar slopes and a layer of weak surface hoar in more shaded terrain.
Buried 40-60 cm deep, a layer of surface hoar, crust, and faceted crystals is a layer of concern. Observations are limited in this region but this layer has already produced avalanches in the neighbouring regions.
Snowpack depths at upper elevations are around 80-100 cm.
Thursday night
Mostly cloudy and increasing winds. Northwest ridgetop winds 20-30 km/h. Overnight alpine low temperature -12 C. Freezing levels valley bottom.
Friday
Clear skies with cloud cover increasing later in the day. Northwesterly ridge winds 15-30 km/h. Alpine high temperature -6 C.
Saturday
Cloudy skies and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Northeasterly ridge winds 15-30 km/hr. Alpine temperatures, high of -6. Freezing levels valley bottom.
Sunday
Cloudy skies. Light flurries, up to 5 cm. Northwest ridge winds 20 km/h. Alpine high temperature -14 C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
