Up to 15 cm of new storm snow and strong southwest wind has likely formed fresh new wind slabs on northeast though southeast slopes and behind terrain features. Stiff snow and cracking are indicators of a potential wind slab avalanche problem.
10-20 cm of new snow and strong wind from the southwest will build the freshest slabs on northwest to northeast to southeast aspects. Older wind slabs may still linger on southwest slopes due to strong easterly winds earlier this week.
Weak faceted grains near the base of the snowpack have the potential of forming large and destructive avalanches. The most likely place to trigger this layer would be on shallow and rocky slopes. Smaller wind slab avalanches would also have the potential of stepping down to this layer.
A brief period of high pressure will bring a mix of sun and cloud to the region on Thursday and Friday. Ridgetop wind will be strong from the southwest with freezing levels as high as 1100 m. The next frontal system is expected this weekend bringing new snow, strong to extreme winds and rising freezing levels near 1500 m.
No new avalanches reported on Wednesday.
A wind slab avalanche likely stepped down to the weak faceted grains described in the snowpack summary, forming a large avalanche near Smithers within the past few days.
Data in this region is very sparse. Please consider sharing your observations to the Mountain Information Network; even just a photo of your day helps. Thank you to those that have already submitted this winter.
Up to 15 cm of new snow and strong wind from the southwest have built the freshest wind slabs on the northeast facing slopes at treeline and in the alpine. Older wind slabs may still be found on other slopes from the East winds early this week. These slabs may overly a melt-freeze crust from early December, which may have weak and sugary faceted grains growing around it.
At the base of the snowpack sits the early-November crust with weak faceted grains below. These faceted grains have formed large avalanches in both the south and north of the region within the past week.
Snowpack depths vary substantially with aspect, elevation, and wind exposure. Below treeline the terrain may still be below the threshold for avalanches.
