If you are out in the mountains, please consider submitting your observations to our MIN (Mountain Information Network).
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure is building over most of the province. Colder modified arctic air is expected to descend from the north. Alpine lows should be around -15 and highs around -10 combined with light northerly winds. Expect broken skies with periods of light flurries on Friday. Very little precipitation should be left by Saturday and Sunday.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported. Minimal sluffing in steep terrain.
Snowpack Summary
5-10 cm of storm snow in the past few days has been transported into thin windslabs. These thin new windslabs have developed over a mix of old surfaces left behind after the recent inversion and clear alpine skies. These old surfaces include surface hoar, near surface facets, and possible sun crusts on steep southerly aspects. Some areas of the western Cariboos around Wells Grey are reporting variable snow depths with treeline height of snow around 150 cm. Shallow snowpack areas may have weak facetted crystals near the ground.
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.