Expect to find wind slabs in lee terrain features.
Riders could trigger wind slabs in lee terrain features from recent snow and strong southwest wind. Assess for slab properties in steep and consequential terrain before committing.
It remains possible that riders could trigger various buried layers. The most likely terrain feature to trigger them is within upper treeline and alpine elevations in shallow, rocky start zones.
Numerous storm and wind slabs were triggered by explosives on Monday within the weekend's storm snow. There was also evidence of a large (size 3) naturally-triggered avalanche in a shallow snowpack area north of Smithers and east of Hazelton. It occurred at 1750 m on a northerly aspect in a cross-loaded terrain feature and stepped down to basal facets.
Looking ahead, riders could still trigger wind slabs in lee terrain features as they slowly bond to the snowpack. There is also a possibility of triggering deeper layers described in the Snowpack Summary.
Variable snowfall amounts accumulated across the region over the weekend but most areas received around 20 cm with strong southwest wind. The wind scoured wind-exposed terrain and formed wind slabs in lee terrain features. A bit of new snow and strong wind on Wednesday will build on these.
A melt-freeze crust is found about 80 cm deep. Weak faceted grains may be associated with it in shallow snowpack areas. This layer may have been the culprit for a large avalanche within the past week north of Smithers in a shallow snowpack terrain feature.
An old surface hoar layer from early January may be found about 100 to 150 cm, but there hasn't been any recent avalanche observations on it.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, 20 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -11 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 40 to 50 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -8 °C.
ThursdayCloudy with snowfall then clearing, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 20 to 30 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -9 °C.
FridayCloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, 40 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -9 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
