This forecast is based on limited field observations. If you head into the mountains, please send a note to
forecaster@avalanche.ca and let us know what you saw.
Summary
Confidence
Fair - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Mainly sunny with some thin cloud possible, moderate northwesterly alpine winds. Treeline temperatures expected to be around -20. Sunday: Increasing cloud with light flurries possible in the evening. Moderate northwest alpine winds and treeline temperatures around -15. Monday: Cloudy with light flurries possible. Moderate northwest alpine winds and treeline temperatures around -15.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported but incoming field data is still very limited. Recent reports from the neighbouring Monashee Mtns are limited to natural and human triggered sluffs in steep terrain and 1 Size 1.5 explosive-triggered wind slab avalanche.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack depths are likely highly variable across the region, with elevation, and in wind-exposed areas. Low-elevation and wind-affected areas likely have a shallow faceted snowpack. While in higher elevation sheltered areas 30-50 cm of recent storm snow overlies a variety of old snow surfaces including surface hoar in sheltered areas and/or sun crust on steep south facing slopes. In some neighbouring areas the buried surface hoar is giving easy to moderate sudden planar compression test results, while elsewhere the storm snow has yet to settle into a sufficiently cohesive slab. There are two distinct weaknesses within the mid and lower snowpack: the early November surface hoar/facet/crust interface is down roughly half way (50-60cm) and the October rain crust is near the ground. Recent snowpack tests gave easy results on the early November mid-pack interface where it was found to be facets under a crust. Cold clear weather is likely promoting surface hoar growth and near surface faceting.
ccampbell,
Avalanche Canada
