Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to limited field observationsfor the entire period

Friday: Mostly sunny and dry with light winds. The strong temperature inversion continues with above freezing alpine temperatures and the possibility of valley cloud. Saturday: Increasing clouds and light southwest winds with light precipitation possible in the evening. The temperature inversion is expected to dissipate with freezing levels as high as 1400m. Sunday: Light snowfall possible, freezing levels lowering to 900m, and light to moderate southwest winds.

One very recent size 2 slab was observed last Sunday on a north facing slope close to Keith's Hut in the Duffey Lake area. It appeared to be skier-triggered from the weekend.

5cm of overnight snow in the Coquihalla has buried a thick layer of surface hoar on most sheltered and shady slopes, but no new snow further north means it's still on the surface. This surface hoar may be sitting on a crust in sun and wind exposed areas making it especially touchy as soon as a sufficiently deep and cohesive slab forms. The thick rain crust from last weekend extends up to 1800m and is buried by 10-15cm of faceted snow. Snow pack depths and surface condition are highly variable in wind-exposed areas. Recent observations from wind scoured alpine slope in the Duffey Lake area include inconsistent hard but sudden compression test results down 70cm on buried surface hoar, and just off the ground in facets. On a more sheltered westerly aspect moderate to hard sudden shears were observed down 40-50cm and 70cm on rounding facets.