Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

No new avalanches have been observed or reported in since Monday Dec 19th. Continue to support your backcountry community and please consider submitting a MIN report, Your information sharing is vital.

The snowpack has been highly wind-affected from the past strong to extreme north wind. Upper elevation terrain has been scoured and in some places the ground is exposed. The height of the snowpack is variable, areas in the lee of the prevailing wind depths of up to 150cm can be found. Most of the upper snowpack presents as a crust. In areas that are protected from the wind, it is expected that between 10-15cm overlies this crust. At the lower elevation treeline terrain, snow depths decrease and is estimated at 60 to 90 cm.

This extended period of cold artic air is forecast to begin to slowly subside late Friday. As a series of warm winter storm fronts are approaching the outflow north winds are expected to increase in velocity. The approaching fronts are forecast to arrive from the south of British Columbia and will for this forecast area produce a slight rise in temperature, strong south west wind and a period of sustained light snowfall.

Thursday night

Snow 1-5 cm. Southwesterly winds 40 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -26˚C.

Friday

Snow 5-10 cm. Southwesterly winds 60 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -24˚C.

Saturday

Snow 5-10 cm. Southwesterly winds 60 to 100 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -20˚C.

Sunday

Snow 1-5 cm. Southwesterly winds at 60 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -15˚C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
• Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.