Regions
Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
A fast moving frontal wave will move onto the coast late today. It should move quickly across the province and be out of the area by Thursday morning. Another Pacific disturbance may bring light precipitation, then weather begins to dry out and cool off.Wednesday evening: Freezing level at valley bottom, light snowfall, some parts of the forecast area may receive 5-10cm of snow, freezing level at valley bottom overnight, ridge top winds 20-30km/h WThursday: Freezing level at or near valley bottom. Snowfall amounts, 5-10cm, ridge top winds from the W-NW 30-50km/h Friday: Freezing level around 100m. Nil to trace precipitation in the forecast for Friday, but winds will remain 20-30 Km/h at ridge top.
Avalanche Summary
Reports of whumpfing, settlements, and recent avalanche activity from Smithers area on the weekend.We are still hearing reports from the NW inland of whumpfing and reactive slab activity. Natural avalanches have been running, especially on lee slopes. Numerous size 1-2 skier remote (up to 50 m away) slab avalanches released down 60 cm on the old buried surfaces mentioned above in the snowpack summary. A poor bond exists with the new snow and old surfaces, however, the Inland region probably lacks the snow amounts to be as reactive as the Coastal region. I would be highly suspicious of wind loaded slopes at all elevations, use conservative terrain choices and make observations as you travel.
Snowpack Summary
The region has received between 35-65 cm of new snow which overlies a variety of old surfaces. These buried surfaces consist of weak surface facets, surface hoar (more predominant at tree line and below tree line elevations), a scoured crust, wind pressed snow, or any combination of these. Whumpfing, cracking and reports from the field indicate a very poor bond between the new snow and these old surfaces. Reports from the Hankin area on a NE facing slope " 1300m show an ice crust down 50cm with facets above and below. A compression test easy @ 25cm and another down @48cm, sudden collapse ( Thanks BH!) Strong winds and slight warming has added cohesion to the new storm slab, and has transported the new snow into deeper, potentially more destructive wind slabs on the lee side of ridge tops.The mid and lower snowpack are generally strong and well-settled. Basal facets and depth hoar are likely to exist in some parts of the region, but triggering has become unlikely.
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.