This forecast is based off data from surrounding regions. Conditions could be better or worse than indicated. Use it as a baseline and supplement it with your own observations.
Summary
Confidence
Poor - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Tonight and Tuesday: Light snow with accumulations of 5-10 cm by Tuesday evening. The freezing level should remain relatively low with temperatures at 1500 m around -5. Ridge winds should be moderate from the west-northwest. Wednesday and Thursday: Continued precipitation but temperatures also rise. The freezing level could climb to 1700-2000 m. Higher elevations could see quite a bit of snow during this period.
Avalanche Summary
Currently there are no recent avalanche reports. It's likely that there is enough snow at higher elevations for avalanches, particularly in wind loaded alpine features. Stay alert to changing conditions and signs of unstable snow like recent avalanches, significant loading by wind or snowfall, whumpfing or cracking, or rapid warming.
Snowpack Summary
This is an estimate of what the snowpack may look like based of a few observations and previous weather. If you plan on riding in avalanche terrain be sure to supplement this with your own observations and please pass along any data you collect (
forecaster@avalanche.ca).Around 15-25 cm of recent storm snow has fallen in the past few days. This new snow may be sitting on a layer of surface hoar and/or a sun crust (similar to the South Columbia). Below this you will likely find a 15-25cm thick layer of sugary facets, which is sitting on a solid rain crust from early November. Recent strong and variable winds may have created dense wind slabs in exposed terrain. The average treeline snowpack depth is around 60-100cm. The snow probably tapers off pretty quickly as you drop below treeline. Watch out for exposed (or lightly buried) obstacles like stumps, rocks, logs, and open creeks.
Peter,
Avalanche Canada
