Carefully assess for wind slab as you move through terrain. Be especially cautious in shallow snowpack areas.
Riders could trigger wind slabs in lee terrain features from recent snow and strong southwest wind. Assess for slab properties in steep and consequential terrain before committing.
It remains possible that riders could trigger various buried layers. The most likely terrain feature to trigger them is within upper treeline and alpine elevations in shallow, rocky start zones.
Numerous storm and wind slabs were triggered by explosives on Monday within the weekend's storm snow. There was also evidence of a large (size 3) naturally-triggered avalanche in a shallow snowpack area north of Smithers and east of Hazelton. It occurred at 1750 m on a northerly aspect in a cross-loaded terrain feature and stepped down to basal facets.
Looking ahead, riders could still trigger wind slabs in lee terrain features as they slowly bond to the snowpack. There is also a possibility of triggering deeper layers described in the Snowpack Summary.
Variable snowfall amounts accumulated across the region over the weekend but most areas received around 20 cm with strong southwest wind. The wind scoured exposed terrain and formed wind slabs in lee terrain features. A sun crust can be found under this recent snow and a new but small layer of surface hoar can also be found just below the surface.
A melt-freeze crust is found about 80 cm deep. Weak faceted grains may be associated with it in shallow snowpack areas. This layer may have been the culprit for a large avalanche within the past week north of Smithers in a shallow snowpack terrain feature.
An old surface hoar layer from early January may be found about 100 to 150 cm, but there hasn't been any recent avalanche observations on it.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with a few centimeters of new snow expected. Light to moderate southwest wind and a low of -5 at 1500m.
Thursday
Cloudy in the morning, clearing around noon. No new snow expected. Light to moderate westerly wind and a high of -6 at 1500m.
Friday
Cloudy with up to 5cm of new snow expected. Moderate westerly winds and a high of -5 at 1500m.
Saturday
Cloudy with light flurries bringing a trace of new snow. Moderate northwest winds and a high of -4 at 1500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
