Summary
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Wednesday
Weather Forecast
MONDAY: Light precipitation with gradually cooling temperatures to -13 degrees celsius. Winds light from the west and southwest. TUESDAY: Light flurries and continued colder temperatures. Light to moderate westerly winds. WEDNESDAY: The northern edge of a frontal system over Washington state bringing light to moderate precipitation to the region. Light westerly winds.
Avalanche Summary
Recent reports indicate loose snow avalanches to size 1 triggering easily in steep unsupported terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Continued small amounts of snow has maintained fresh wind slab development and cornice growth. This latest new snow has buried a some previously facetted surface snow and small surface hoar in sheltered areas at and below treeline. A thin melt/freeze crust can be found in the upper snowpack as high as 1900m, and some areas are reporting surface hoar buried early-January now down 10-30cm. The late-December interface is now down 30-60cm and producing moderate to hard resistant snowpack test results. The mid-December surface hoar/facet persistent weakness, down 40-100cm, is generally producing anywhere from easy results where it's shallow to hard results where it's deeper. Basal facets remain concern in shallow snowpack areas especially with heavy triggers in thin spots, and weaknesses in the slab above create the potential for step-down avalanches.
mbender,
Avalanche Canada
