Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure builds on Wednesday bringing clear, cold conditions to most of the Province. The next low pressure system is expected to hit the North Coast late Thursday and should reach the South Coast by Thursday night or Friday morning.Wednesday: Cloudy with light precipitation in the morning, clearing into the afternoon, freezing levels dropping to valley bottom during the day, light northerly windsThursday: Clear and dry conditions, freezing levels at valley bottom, light northerly windsFriday: Light precipitation in the south of the region, moderate in north of the region, freezing levels at valley bottom, light to moderate SW winds
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack depths vary greatly across the region with 130cm reported at treeline in the Northern Cascades but only 50 cm along the Duffy. In general, the snowpack across the region is significantly thinner than average for this time of year. Terrain below treeline is still mostly below threshold for avalanche activity.The recent warm temperatures have generally promoted snowpack settlement and bonding within the snowpack. The recent storm snow is bonding well to the mid-Dec facet interface at treeline and below. Previous weak interfaces deeper in the snowpack are generally well bonded and unreactive to snowpack tests. In the alpine, strong SW winds have redistributed the recent storm snow creating wind slabs in leeward features and wind scoring on windward slopes.Early season riding hazards such as rocks, stumps and logs are lurking below the surface at treeline elevations and below.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.