Confidence
Fair - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
An arctic air mass is still sitting over much of BC however a series of fronts will start to drive the cold air out of the region through the week. Tuesday will be cloudy, cool and calm. Wednesday will see light precipitation and increasing SW winds. Light snow will continue into Thursday before tapering off Friday. Freezing levels will climb through the forecast period reaching 1300m in the west of the region by Friday
Avalanche Summary
No reports of recent avalanche activity.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack depths vary greatly across the region with 160cm at treeline in the Cascades but 50 cm along the Duffy. Terrain below treeline is still mostly below threshold for avalanche activity.Arctic outflow winds have redistributed the snows that fell last week forming wind slabs on S to SW slopes at treeline and in the alpine. Surface hoar has been growing over the last week in protected locations near tree line while the cold temperatures have driven faceting throughout the snowpack.A few crusts can be found near the ground, especially at higher higher elevations. There haven't been any reports of avalanches on these layers, but they're worth looking for it if you dig a pit.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.