Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

A low pressure system will track across the southern end of province Saturday, bringing 10-15 cm to the southern end of the region and 5-10 cm to the north by Saturday evening. Freezing levels will drop to valley bottom and winds will range from 10-30 km/h from the south. No precipitation is forecasted for Sunday or Monday.

No new avalanches were observed on Thursday, but that was likely due to the lack of observers in the field during the storm. The new snow has created potential for touchy storm slabs. Winds will continue to transport new snow and form wind slabs on lee slopes in the alpine and at treeline.

Thursday night's storm brought a wide range of snowfall throughout the region. New snow amounts ranged from 20 to 45 cm, with the largest amounts on the western side of the Monashees. Intense wind transport was observed during the storm and continued on Friday. With strong southerly winds, large storm slabs likely developed on wind-loaded features and in parts of the region with greater snowfall amounts. The mid-November crust is now 50-100 cm deep, and although recent reports suggest the snow is bonding well to the crust, it could eventually develop into a persistent slab problem. Below the crust the snowpack is moist and generally well bonded. Limited observations suggest snowpack depths are 90-150 cm at treeline and in 140-220 cm in the alpine. Snowpack depths remain below threshold for avalanches below 1600 m.