Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Light snowfall / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at 1200mSunday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light and variable winds / Freezing level at 900mMonday: Light snowfall / Light southeast winds / Freezing level at 900m
Avalanche Summary
There have been no reports of recent avalanche activity.
Snowpack Summary
Relatively small pockets of stiff wind slab which exist at higher elevations are expected to be mostly unreactive. On sun-exposed slopes and at lower elevations, you will most likely find a melt-freeze crust. In shaded areas at treeline and below treeline recent snow may overlie surface hoar which is reported to be reactive in the Meager Group (upper Lillooet). Several buried crusts can be found in the snowpack, especially on solar aspects; however, reports indicate these interfaces have settled out fairly rapidly. The mid and lower snowpack layers are generally strong and well settled.Total snow depths vary from around 400 cm in the south to around 180 cm in the north.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.