Track new snow amounts and reactivity as you investigate the storm outcome on Wednesday. Wind loaded areas will likely be the first to reveal how new snow is bonding.
As new snow accumulates, reactive deposits will first form in the lee of ridgelines and other wind-loaded areas. Surface hoar at lower elevations may cause surprising reactivity.
A skier triggered a 10 to 35 cm-deep size 1.5 windslab on a steep, NE-facing feature in the Babines on Monday, the first indication of an expected uptick in avalanche conditions with ongoing snowfall and wind.
On January 21 there was an isolated report of a skier triggering a persistent slab avalanche when transitioning into wind affected terrain. A firm wind slab stepped down 70 cm to the early January weak layer below. Concern for this layer has been steadily diminishing.
Less than 10 cm of new snow should accumulate by end-of-day Wednesday under strong to extreme winds, bringing new snow totals to around 15 - 20 cm. The new snow has buried heavily wind-affected and crusty surfaces almost everywhere.
In shelter below 1000 m there is large surface hoar on this crust that will promote reactivity once there's enough snow for a slab.
The mid and lower snowpack is well settled with no current layers of concern. Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 150 cm to 250 cm.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with flurries bringing up to about 5 cm of new snow. 40 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind, easing. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Wednesday
Staying mostly cloudy with a precip break before afternoon flurries bring 1 to 3 cm of snow, continuing overnight. 40 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline temperature -2 °C with freezing level rising to 1100 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with diminishing flurries bringing 5 to 10 cm of new snow, including overnight. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C with freezing level reaching 1200 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with flurries continuing from overnight bringing 10 to 25 total cm of new snow. 40 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level to 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
