Avalanche Forecast

High -

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow. Winds light from the west. Possible temperature inversion with alpine temperatures to -8.Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods and no new snow. Winds moderate from the southwest. Alpine temperatures of -6.Saturday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Winds moderate to strong from the southwest. Freezing level rising to 1300 metres with alpine temperatures to -1.

A MIN report from Tuesday details a skier triggered avalanche involvement in our region. The avalanche was triggered in a rocky section of a steeper southeast-facing slope where there appeared to be evidence of recent wind loading. Other reports from Tuesday include several Size 1.5-2 avalanches running naturally in steep west and northwest-facing terrain in the north of the region.

25-30cm of low density snow fell over Sunday and Monday in the southern (Coquihalla) area, while northern sections received 7-15cms of new snow. During the storm, moderate southwesterly winds redistributed the new snow onto north and east aspects, forming reactive soft slabs. After the storm, winds shifted to classic outflow (northerly) patterns with moderate winds at ridge top. This pattern resulted in 'reverse loading' of wind slabs onto southerly slopes. These wind slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack. Below these slabs, a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar can be found, the result of last weeks cold temperatures and strong winds. These older wind slabs (on south to west aspects) remain a concern in our current snowpack with recent cold temperatures having slowed their healing into the snowpack.