Avalanche Forecast

Over the past few days, several size 1 to 2 avalanches were reported at Hankin, Ashman, and the Babines. These avalanches were easily triggered by the weight of a rider. They were sliding on a layer of weak, feathery surface hoar crystals, 20 to 30 cm below the snow surface. One of these slabs stepped down to a layer of weak, sugary, facetted crystals that were buried on December 23rd.

20-30 cm of generally soft snow sits above a layer of surface hoar crystals in sheltered areas. If wind or warm temperatures have formed any of this snow into a slab, expect it to avalanche under the weight of a rider. See the avalanche summary for recent reports of avalanches on this layer.

A weak layer of facets that formed during the arctic outbreak in December is buried 30 to 60 cm deep. Observations suggest it is fairly widespread, but rounding and gaining strength, and is not reactive to triggering under the current conditions.

Tuesday night

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -4 °C. Ridge wind south 40 km/h gusting to 65 km/h. Freezing level 700 metres.

Wednesday

Cloudy with snowfall in the morning and sunny breaks in the afternoon, with up to 5 cm accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -4 °C. Ridge wind southwest 25-45 km/h. Freezing level 700 metres.

Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -3 °C. Ridge wind southwest 30 km/h. Freezing level rises to 700 metres.

Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -1 °C. Ridge wind southwest 30 km/h gusting to 60 km/h. Freezing level rises to 1200 metres.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
• Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.