Avalanche Forecast

Low - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

SATURDAY: 10 cm of snow Friday night then clearing and cooling throughout the day, strong west wind, alpine high temperatures around -12 C.SUNDAY: Heavy snow starting Sunday morning with accumulations of 10-30 cm, moderate southwest wind, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.MONDAY: Clearing with some isolated flurries, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.

Reports have been limited recently. Skiers have been able to trigger a few small slabs on steep convex rolls on Thursday and Wednesday. Some evidence of past natural activity has been reported in various parts of the region, likely occurring during last week's storm. A few persistent slab avalanches have been reported over the past week as well. Several naturally-triggered size 2 persistent slab avalanches failed naturally at 1200 m in the Howsons on Tuesday. A large naturally-triggered size 3 persistent slab avalanche was reported on an east aspect at 1900 m in the Howsons on Monday. Two large remotely triggered avalanches (size 2.5) were reported on north and west aspects around 1600 m north of Kispiox late last week.

Fresh snow will continue to accumulate the next few days. 20-30 cm has already accumulated since Thursday. Warm temperatures are promoting the settlement of new snow, while westerly winds are blowing snow around in exposed areas and forming touchy slabs.40-70 cm of snow lies over a crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. Another two crust / surface hoar layers that formed in December are buried 60-90 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.