Areas with wind slabs (south through northwest aspects) may have elevated danger. Conditions are quite variable so continually re-assess as you travel.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
We've seen a shift from the very cold conditions, and temperatures have warmed by roughly 5 degrees Celcius. Only some isolated flurries are possible until late Sunday, when a small amount (10-15 cms) of light dry snow is forecast.SATURDAY: Sunny breaks with increasing clouds overnight. Slight chance of flurries. Winds light southeasterly. Alpine temperatures -12 to -16 Celcius.SUNDAY: Cloudy with flurries in the afternoon. Wind light southeasterly. Alpine high temperatures near -10 Celcius; 10-15 cms light dry snow overnight.MONDAY: An additional 5-10 cms light dry snow are possible during the day. Winds light westerly. Alpine temperatures steady near -12 Celcius.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported today. Earlier in the week we had reports of several skier-triggered windslabs (Size 1.5-2) in the backcountry near Nelson. Aspects were southwest through north at treeline and in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
We've had a skiff of new snow - in most places just enough to bury the facets and surface hoar which have formed throughout the region. On steep solar (south) aspects, a breakable sun crust exists. The last snow we received (30-60 cm) was exposed to east through northerly winds during the cold clear period. In many areas "reverse loading" occurred, causing windslabs to form and giving sudden planar results in snowpack tests. This snow sits over a weak layer buried on Boxing Day that was initially reactive but now appears to have gained strength. Slightly lower in the snowpack is an interface buried mid-December, now down 40-100 cm. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region giving moderate results in snowpack tests, but not reactive to skier loads.
mgrist,
Avalanche Canada
