Stable weather and minimal natural avalanche activity over the last few days should NOT be interpreted as an improving stability in the current snowpack. Persistent and deep persistent weak layers will be put to another test with increasing winds, warming temperatures, and additional precipitation on Friday and into the weekend.
Continue to avoid steep convexities and unsupported features. Be suspicious near open, or connected slopes. Now is not the time to let your guard down.
A varied slab sits over the December 17th Facet-Surface Hoar layer. This problem is most significant in open tree line features and in the alpine where you can expect a stiffer, likely more reactive slab.
The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Avalanches initiating in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to this layer and gain significant mass.
No significant avalanche activity has been observed or reported.
If you're out in the hills, don't forget to post to the MIN. Every bit of information helps!
Previous southwest winds redistributed any loose surface snow onto the already existing persistent slab, particularly in lee features. A layer of Surface Hoar and Facets is down 20-40cm in sheltered areas. Large Facets and Depth Hoar comprise the bottom portion of the snowpack. Snowpack depths vary from 50-100cm depending on location; in the alpine, many exposed features have been stripped to the ground.
Thursday: Cloudy with scattered flurries. Accumulation: 4 cm. Alpine temperature: High -4 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 20-30 km/h. Freezing level: 1700 metres.Friday: Flurries. Accumulation: 9 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -3 °C, High -1 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15-30 km/h. Freezing level: 2100 metres.
Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
