Avalanche Forecast

Friday, a natural size 2 wind slab avalanche occurred on an east slope in the alpine. Many size 1 wind slabs were triggered by riders on convex features in the alpine and treeline.

Thursday, near Terrace, skiers triggered a wind slab avalanche up to 50 cm deep. Report here. Two very large (size 3) slab avalanches were observed near Ningunsaw on south and west-facing slopes in the alpine. These avalanches may be failing on the deeper weak layer described below.

Northerly winds have redistributed soft snow into wind slabs in exposed areas. These winds are opposite to regular loading patterns.

In sheltered areas, about 15 cm of snow overlies a layer of buried surface hoar. Otherwise, wind slabs overlie previous hard surfaces or a melt-freeze crust that extends up to 1600 m (east) or 1800 m (west).

Near Stewart and Ningunsaw, a weak layer in the form of a crust may exist up to 100 cm deep.

The remainder of the snowpack is reportedly strong with various hard crusts.

Snow depths vary throughout the region, ranging from 150 to 300 cm at treeline and tapering rapidly below.

Friday Night

Mostly clear with no new snow, alpine winds northwest 20 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -30 ºC.

Saturday

Partly cloudy with a trace of new snow in the north, northwest alpine winds 20 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature -25 ºC.

Sunday

A few clouds with no new snow, northwest alpine winds 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -25 ºC.

Monday

Cloudy with a trace of new snow, southwest alpine winds 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -15 ºC.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.