Avalanche Forecast

High - The weather pattern is stable

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light from the southwest. Temperature +4. Freezing level 3500 m.FRIDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 5 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong from the west. Temperature -2. Freezing level 700 m.SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Ridge wind moderate from the west. Temperature -4. Freezing level 600 m.

There have been no new avalanche reports since the weekend when numerous loose wet avalanches up to size 2 were observed on northerly aspects along the Duffey Lake Road with rapid daytime warming that occurred on Sunday. Prior to that, numerous small loose wet avalanches (size 1) were observed on steep south and west-facing slopes on Wednesday and Thursday, while glide avalanches to size 2 were also observed on steep, smooth rock slabs around the Coquihalla on Thursday.

The recent alpine inversion and warm temperatures across the region have created a spring-like crust on most aspects. With another day of warm temperatures and high freezing level forecasted for Thursday, this crust will likely become moist in the afternoon particularly on steep, sun-exposed slopes. On shaded north aspects the surface crust is thinner with dry snow below. The upper snowpack is and well settled and overlies the late November rain crust, now 20-50 cm deep. Recent snowpack tests in the Duffey Lake area have produced hard, resistant compression test results on small sugary, snow crystals (facets) associated with this layer. However these facets were noted to be showing signs of "rounding" or gaining strength. Treeline snow depths are approximately 1 m throughout the region.