Wind effect continues to drive the avalanche danger in many areas. The safest, and best, riding may be in lower elevation terrain sheltered from the wind.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable
Weather Forecast
Friday: Dry and mostly sunny. Treeline temperatures around -20C. Ridgetop winds 20-30 km/h from the southwest.Saturday: Dry with cloud building in the afternoon. Temperatures around -15 C. Winds 30-40 km/h from the south.Sunday: Flurries. Temperatures around -8C. Winds 30-40 from the southwest.
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, numerous naturally triggered wind slabs to size 1.5 were noted in steep, high elevation terrain. On Wednesday, several small natural wind slab avalanches were reported near Valemount on various aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Recent new snow has been shifted by moderate to strong southwest and more recent northerly winds in exposed upper areas. In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer lies up to 120cm below the surface. In these areas professionals feel this layer has generally gained considerable strength. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugarbowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. In shallow snowpack areas like those, I'd carefully investigate this interface before pushing into steeper terrain.
jfloyer,
Avalanche Canada
