Wind slabs may not be fully bonded yet in wind-loaded areas, while dangerous weak layers hide deeper in the snowpack.
Wind-sheltered, low-consequence terrain is recommended.
Recent easterly winds have formed wind slabs in a reverse loading pattern. Avoid wind-loaded areas, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Sporadic, persistent slab avalanches continue to occur. While this avalanche problem is becoming more stubborn to trigger, it comes with serious consequences.
Large natural and human-triggered persistent slab avalanches have occurred over the past week on the persistent weak layer buried in early December. The most concerning area has been in the Goat Range.A recent avalanche, classified as a size 1.5 persistent slab, was triggered by a vehicle northwest of Kaslo on Friday. The slide occurred below treeline. This problem is slowly starting to improve, but deserves patience and continued vigilance.
5 to 10 cm of new snow may be covering a thin sun crust on sun affected slopes, or pockets of older wind slabs in exposed areas at upper elevations.
Expect to find 20 to 30 cm of soft, settling snow in sheltered areas and in the trees.
A persistent weak layer that consists of a crust with overlying facets and/or surface hoar, is buried 60 to 110 cm. While this layer is widespread, it is expected to be most problematic on north through east-facing slopes between 1700 and 2300 m.
At treeline, snow depths range from 100 to 180 cm.
Saturday night
Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of new snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Tuesday
Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
