Avalanche Forecast

Good

Saturday: A ridge of high pressure builds and settles in. Expect mostly sunny skies, light northerly winds and alpine temperatures around -1.Sunday & Monday: The ridge continues to dominate. Expect continued sunny skies, light northerlies and high freezing levels each afternoon.

Natural activity up to size 2.5 has been observed on north through east aspects where the recent storm snow is 25cm or deeper. These events have been predominantly failing in the alpine and upper treeline, with one, anomalous event at a lower elevation (1500m). A brief sunny period on Feb 7 saw moist, solar triggered sluffing below treeline in the Coquihalla area. Isolated, small rider triggered avalanches have also been reported.

The dribs and drabs of new snow has ended. Around 30-40cm fell on average, with more (up to 65cm) in the Coquihalla area. Consistent southwesterly winds during the storm period has redistributed the new snow into fresh windslabs on lee terrain features in the alpine and at treeline. The newly buried surfaces (Feb.3 interface) are old wind slabs (behind ridges, ribs and on lee slopes) and sun crusts on south and west facing slopes. In isolated locations, this interface is small surface hoar. Down a further 20-50 cm sits a persistent interface comprising of crusts, facets and/or surface hoar crystals. Recently, this layer has been reactive only in sheltered areas at and below treeline where the surface hoar lingers. Tests on this layer have shown vastly different results, from a partial block RB6 to a moderate, sudden extended column test with a positive propensity for propagation. This really highlights the variability of the layer and the need to dig down to find and test the layer before committing to steep terrain. The mid and lower  snowpack is generally well settled and strong.