Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

A modified, dry arctic air mass remains over the much of the province. Expect valley fog in the morning at lower elevations and sunshine in the alpine for most of the interior of BC. Moderate temperatures aloft, with above freezing layers of warm air, will pass through the Province during the weekend.

Earlier in the week there were reports of skier triggered soft slabs up to size 1.5 These were mostly soft slabs 5-30 cm thick. Progressive warming in the alpine with sunny conditions may result in loose natural avalanches on steep south-facing slopes. Continued warming through the weekend may create a denser slab within the recent storm snow.

Wind slabs, both hard and soft, may be found on any recently wind-affected terrain, especially at alpine and treeline elevations. 40-70 cm recent dry snowfall overlies a mid- and lower snowpack which is reported to be well settled. There may be some storm snow interfaces to watch in specific areas. Storm slab properties may change as the alpine gets sun and the temperatures rise. The early December weak layer (about a metre down) is now hard to find and unlikely to be triggered, except with a very heavy trigger. At the base of the snowpack, on high north aspects, basal facets may overlie glacial ice.