Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Wind effect is extremely variable

Synopsis: An off shore Rex Block keeps the province under cold, dry northerly flow for the forecast period. But the models are starting to agree on a solution that shows the blocking pattern breaking down giving way to a steady flow of Pacific Storms early next week. Time will tell if this is all conjecture and hope, or something a bit more substantive.Thursday: Sky: Clear; Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precip: Nil Wind: Light, N | Mod E at ridgetop Friday: Sky: Clear; Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precip: Nil Wind: Light, NESaturday: Sky: Clear; Freezing Level: Valley Bottom; Precip: Nil Wind: Light, E

No new avalanches were observed Tuesday.

A small front came through the region on January 29th leaving up to 10 cm of snow in it's wake. In wind exposed terrain the new snow has been formed into small wind slabs by N/NW winds. The settled storm snow and fresh wind slabs rest on a weak layer that consists of large surface hoar (widespread in most sheltered and shaded areas at all elevations), a sun crust on south facing slopes, faceted grains (in colder areas or areas with a thinner snowpack), or a combination of the above. This variable weak layer is expected to become a significant problem if/when it finally starts snowing again. The rest of the upper and mid-snowpack are generally well consolidated. A facet/crust weakness near the bottom of the snowpack has gone dormant for now but may rear it's ugly head again in the future. The depth of this layer makes triggering an avalanche unlikely but the consequences would be very serious.