Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Synopsis: A brief weak ridge on Friday should result in drier conditions, but will quickly be displaced by a series of weather systems beginning on Saturday.Friday: A mix of sun and cloud with a chance of flurries. Freezing level around 800 m. Winds are light. Saturday: 10-20 cm of snow. Freezing level steady around 600 m. Winds increase to strong from the SW. Sunday: Moderate to heavy snow (15-25 cm). Winds remain moderate to strong. Freezing level around 600 m.

There were a few reports of small natural and human triggered loose snow avalanches on Wednesday. Recent reports include evidence of previous large avalanches, including one from Mt Joffre at 2000m and the east face of Cayoosh Mountain in the Duffy Lake area last weekend (check out Wayne Flann's Avalanche Blog for a photo of the Cayoosh avalanche).

New snow may be burying a thin layer of surface hoar and increasing winds are likely forming new wind slabs in exposed lee terrain. A recent Rutschblock test at 2100m on a north aspect above Duffy Lake gave an RB3 whole block release down 30cm on a storm snow weakness. The late November surface hoar was found down 70cm but unreactive to snowpack testing. A well settled and rounding mid-pack is overlaying the early November crust, which gave a moderate sudden planer compression test result in the overlying facets. Meanwhile in the Coquihalla area, recent reports suggest an overall well settled "right side up" (progressively more dense with depth) snowpack. The early November crust has not been found in the Coquihalla, although we don't have any reports from the high alpine. Conditions may be quite different in the Northern part of this region, please email us your observations if you are out in the field. forecaster@avalanche.ca