Northwest Inland

Reports from the region have been limited and it is essential to supplement this forecast with your own observations as well as conservative travel techniques. Please post your observations to the Mountain Information Network. (MIN)

Low - Due to the number of field observations

Sunday: Cloudy with flurries bringing approximately 7 cm of new snow. Moderate southeast winds. Alpine temperatures of -5.Monday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow, increasing in the evening. Strong southwest winds. Alpine temperatures around -6.Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries bringing approximately 5 cm of new snow. Moderate to strong southwest winds. Freezing level rising to 1300 metres with alpine temperatures around -3.

One report from Wednesday discussed several estimated Size 2.5-3 avalanches observed on the Kathlyn face of Hudson Bay Mountain. A recent report from social media showed a Size 2 avalanche that occurred last Monday in alpine terrain in the Babines. In spite of its age, the slide is notable for apparently having run on the late October persistent weak layer. No other new avalanches have been reported. Please post your observations to the Mountain Information Network. (MIN)

Snowpack depths over the south of the region are above average for late November, with approximately 150 cm of settled snow present at treeline elevations and above. Stormy weather last week delivered about 40 cm of new snow to the region and there is a good likelihood of wind slabs remaining reactive in open terrain where wind effects were more pronounced during and since the storm. Mid-treeline and lower elevations did receive some precipitation as rain toward the end of the storm, but the thin crust that resulted is not expected to offer bridging strength to the snowpack. About 20-30 cm of settled storm snow lies below last week's accumulations and above the widespread late October crust. This October crust is present near the base of the snowpack at all elevations and features a layer of weak, sugary grains above it. This "crust/facet combo" layer remains an ongoing concern for step-down potential from large triggers such as a storm slab release. The crust is less of a concern below treeline where it is broken up by vegetation near the ground.