Avalanche Forecast

On Tuesday, a small (size 1) skier-triggered wind slab avalanche was reported in northeast-facing, treeline terrain near Hudson Bay Mountain. Whumpfing has also been experienced by backcountry users in the Babines and by Hudson Bay Mountain recently.

Around 15 cm of recent snowfall has been blown around forming new wind slabs on mostly northwest through east-facing slopes at ridgetops. Southerly faces in the alpine are scoured down to the ground or an early-season crust. Two or more different surface hoar layers can be found in the upper snowpack in most areas (expected to be up to 80 cm deep) and appear to be most prominent at treeline and below.Snowpack depths at treeline are variable across the region with generally deeper amounts (~150cm) in the western part and shallower (~80cm) in the eastern part.Generally, avalanches are not a concern yet below 1100 m elevation as there is not enough snow below.

Thurs Night

Cloudy. 2 cm of snow expected. Light easterly wind. Freezing level at valley bottom with treeline temperatures around -8 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with a trace of new snow expected. Winds light to moderate easterly, switching to southest in the PM. Freezing level rising between 800 - 1200 m. Treeline high around -2 °C.

Cloudy, 3 cm of snow expected. Moderate easterly wind. Freezing level between 800-1100 m. Treeline high around -1°C

Cloudy, a trace to 2 cm of snow expected. Light winds from variable directions throughout the day. Freezing level between 800-1200 m. Treeline high of 0 °C

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.