Avalanche Forecast

Recent reports are limited.

Several small natural wind slab avalanches have been reported in the alpine on lee slopes (south aspects). Skiers felt whumping and produced shooting cracks on the same features. More details here.

Layers of buried surface hoar continue to produce planar fractures in snowpack testing near Kispiox.

Variable winds over the past couple days mean that wind slab could be found on all aspects in exposed terrain. New wind slabs will likely overlie facets.

In sheltered areas, 15 to 20 cm of recent storm snow sits on a rain crust up to 1650 m. This crust skis well to about 1200 m, below this it becomes breakable.

Two preserved surface hoar layers can be found buried between 35 and 80 cm deep. These layers are most prominent at treeline and below however they've also been observed in north- and east-facing alpine slopes.

Snowpack depths at treeline vary across the region with generally deeper amounts (150 to 120 cm) west of the highway, and shallower (50 to 90 cm) to the east.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected, west alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -11°C.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud with a few centimeters of new snow expected in the morning, east alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature falling to -16°C.

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected, northeast alpine wind 25 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature falling to -18°C.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected, east alpine wind 25 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature -22°C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.