Avalanche Forecast

Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Synopsis: Inland areas can expect light snow accumulations and rain over the christmas period.Tonight and Wednesday: Isolated flurries. Freezing levels: rising to 1700m. Ridge winds: strong westerly.Thursday: Wet flurries and rain. Freezing levels: 1900m. Ridge winds: moderate westerlyFriday: Clearing. Freezing levels: drop to 1000m. Ridge winds: moderate south-westerlySpecial Notice: Our radar has just picked-up what appears to be a flying sleigh. Our forecasters believe the sleigh belongs to Santa as it is being pulled by at least 8 reindeer. The sleigh is now in the far north of the province at the 2000m elevation and is currently headed south. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

No new avalanche have been reported.

There is significant variation in snow depths across the region. In the Smithers area the ski hill is reporting an 111 cm base with the Ashman trailer is around the same. Treeline depths vary between 100 - 200 cm.The region picked up 10 - 40 cm of new snow in last weekend's storm. The upper pack is likely to be slightly "upside down" as the new snow is sitting on top of 10 to 30 cm of cold snow from earlier in the week. This snow is rests upon a crust that extend up to treeline and possibly beyond. This interfaces has been popping under easy loads in snowpack tests.We don't have great wind stations in the region, but the coast saw a lot of strong wind during the last storm & I suspect this region was similarly hammered, forming windslabs in the alpine and at treeline.Deeper in the snow pack a layer of facets/surface hoar formed during the early December cold/dry spell can be found in the top 100cm in the Ashman . The mid and lower snowpack is still structurally weak and faceted. Depth hoar and early season crust exist near the ground.