Snowfall amounts may vary dramatically across the region. The hazard may change dependent on the amount of new snow. More snow than forecast may push the hazard rating higher than forecast.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
Synopsis: A series of Pacific lows will bring moisture into BC for the next 5 to 7 days.Tuesday night: Freezing level at valley bottom, Precipitation should begin again this evening and into the morning as another wave of moisture moves into the Province. Expect moderate to locally heavy amounts of precipitation, with strong winds at ridge tops.Wednesday: Freezing Level: 1200m; with light to locally moderate amounts of precipitation. Moderate to strong winds at ridge tops.Thursday: Freezing levels may rise to 1300m with light precipitation and a small break between waves of Pacific moisture. Moderate to strong winds at ridge top.Friday: Another wave of Pacific moisture. Moderate to locally heavy precipitation, freezing level may go up to 1100m during the day, moderate to strong south west winds at ridge tops.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous reports of size 1 to 1.5 natural and skier controlled avalanched have been reported in the past 24 hr. Expect the size and numbers to increase in the coming days..
Snowpack Summary
The new snow has fallen on a variety of weak surfaces that include surface hoar (widespread in most sheltered and shaded areas at all elevations), facetted wind slabs from the recent cold clear arctic conditions, and sun crust on some steep south facing slopes. These weak layers will be problematic for the near future. It will take time for the new snow to bond with these old surfaces. Forecast strong winds at ridge tops will redistribute the new snow and form wind slabs on lee slopes. A facet/crust weakness near the bottom of the snowpack has gone dormant for the most part, but we're still seeing an avalanche that goes deep every few days. The depth of this layer makes triggering an avalanche unlikely but the consequences would be very serious.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.