Outflow winds have created highly variable snow conditions in the region. Search for sheltered slopes for the best snow and to avoid wind slab concerns.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Cloudy with sunny breaks and a chance of flurries. Treeline temperatures should reach -1 C during the day. Winds will be variable with some areas experiencing strong outflow (E-NE) winds. Sunday: Mainly cloudy. Treeline temperatures could pop a little above freezing during the day. Ridge winds are moderate from the SW-SE. Monday: Cloudy with light to moderate snowfall. Treeline temperatures are near 0 C again. Winds are moderate to strong from the SW.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity has been reported.
Snowpack Summary
The snow surface is highly variable. 25-40 cm of dry faceted snow can be found on most sheltered slopes, with a layer of new surface hoar above on slopes not affected by wind and sun. A melt-freeze crust can be found at or near the surface on steep, solar aspects in the alpine. Expect a variety of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain. Wind slabs may be reactive to the weight of a rider, especially in areas where a slab overlies surface hoar buried by the Boxing Day storm. Professionals in the region are still tracking a few other surface hoar layers that developed throughout December which are now buried in the top 100cm. These layers have likely gained significant strength, and represent a low probability / higher consequence scenario at treeline and below treeline elevations. In colder and shallower snowpack areas watch for weak basal facets.
pmarshall,
Avalanche Canada
