Clear and cold conditions continue into the weekend. It is still possible to trigger avalanches where the wind has formed slabs at higher elevations.
In alpine terrain and near ridgetops you may find old hard wind slabs on all aspects and softer fresh slabs on west and north facing slopes.
FRIDAY Night: Mainly clear, light wind from the east, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.
SATURDAY: Sunny, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.
SUNDAY: Increasing cloud throughout the day, light wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.
MONDAY: Flurries, moderate to strong southwest wind, alpine high temperature around -5 C.
No avalanches have been reported in the region. The main concern this week is areas where wind may have blown surface snow into hard wind slabs. Concern is reduced in areas where the snow depths have not yet reach the threshold for avalanches.
Cold windy conditions have redistributed whatever new snow fell last weekend. Observations in the region are limited, but we have indications that in areas where early season snowpack existed the new snow buried a thick crust. A MIN report from the Ashman area (west of Smithers) suggests the new snow bonded well to the crust, but that may not be the case elsewhere in the region. Given the lack of recent snowpack observations, we suggest carefully monitoring the bond of the new snow to this crust. Total snow depths are 50-100 cm in alpine areas around Smithers, with depths diminishing rapidly below 1500 m.
