Check for signs of wind slab instability (like shooting cracks) before committing to steep or high-consequence terrain.
Expect conditions to change through the day as temperatures drop.
In areas where wind has formed dense pockets of snow below ridge crests, rolls, and in cross-loaded gullies, human-triggered avalanches could be possible. At treeline, this problem is isolated to steep, rocky, alpine-like features.
Looking forward to Friday, we expect that small, reactive pockets of wind slab in leeward terrain could avalanche under the weight of a human.
On Thursday in Telkwa, our field team reported a small (size 1.5), naturally triggered loose wet avalanche that occurred in north-facing terrain around treeline. It likely occurred sometime on Wednesday. Also, northeast of Terrace, a large storm slab avalanche was reported below a corniced ridge on a southeast aspect.
Expect to find some dry snow on the surface in sheltered areas of the alpine, and moist or crusty, frozen snow at treeline.
A thin frozen crust exists near the surface to mountain tops. Moderate to strong wind has formed pockets of reactive wind slab on north through east-facing terrain, and exposed the crust on windward terrain.
At around 1000 m and below, the snowpack is shallower and isothermal. This will start to freeze as temperatures drop.
A variety of previously concerning weak layers buried from early to mid-January can be found 30 - 80 cm below the snow surface. As the temperature cools after warm temperatures and rain, these layers appear to be strengthening.
Thursday Night
Cloudy. Light rain expected, snow above 1250 m. Light to moderate south or southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -1 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 5-10 cm of snow expected closer to the coast, and 2-4 cm of snow expected further inland as freezing level drops to valley bottom. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -7 °C.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. No new snow expected. Light to moderate northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -10 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Sunday
Sunny. No new snow expected. Light to moderate west or northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -7 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
