Avalanche Forecast

Low - Uncertainty is due to the extreme variability of wind effect on the snowpack. Uncertainty is due to extremely variable snowpack conditions reported through the region.

We’re moving into a period where it’s one storm after the next for the foreseeable future and it should warm up a bit beginning Saturday morning. The storms that are lining up are not particularly juicy, but light snowfall should be pretty consistent.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Moderate to strong west wind, 1 to 8 cm of very light density snow possible.

WEDNESDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level at valley bottom, moderate to strong wind generally out of the south, 1 to 5 cm of very light density snow possible during the day with potential for 2 to 10 cm of snow Wednesday night.

THURSDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level at valley bottom, moderate to strong southwest wind, 1 to 5 cm of snow possible.

FRIDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level at valley bottom, moderate to strong south/southwest wind, 1 to 5 cm of snow possible.

On Monday small wind and storm slabs to size 1.5 were observed in the recent storm snow. Interesting to note that wind slabs were observed in open treeline features which speaks to the tenacity of Sunday's north wind event.

No new avalanche activity to report from Sunday.

On Saturday, the snowpack was reactive to explosive triggers. Some avalanches stepped down to a feathery surface hoar layer buried 50-60 cm deep.

On Thursday explosive control work produced a size 2 avalanche off the Duffey Lake road that released on the mid November facet/crust layer.

On Sunday funky wind out of the N/NE associated with an Arctic Front likely formed fresh wind slabs in locations we aren't used to seeing them. The subsequent cold temperatures should be helping the upper snowpack to settle out quite rapidly.

Previous to Sunday's wind event the riding quality has been phenomenal throughout the region, but there are still some areas for concern deeper in the snowpack:

• A deep persistent weak layer is at the bottom of the snowpack in the northern half of the region (e.g., Duffey, Hurley). It's made up of sugary faceted grains and a hard melt-freeze crust. This is an atypical setup for this part of the province, it's not going away anytime soon and we should all probably remain a bit wary of big alpine lines, at least for now.
• There are currently no concerns about deep weaknesses in the snowpack near Coquihalla summit.
• Most of the region has an unusually thin snowpack in the alpine.
• Almost no snow is found below about 1500 m.

• Be aware of highly variable recent wind loading patterns.
• Recent new snow may be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.
• In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.