Flurries and gusty wind will maintain an elevated avalanche hazard. Choose simple terrain and avoid being under steep slopes and large avalanche paths.
Buried weak layers are most concerning at treeline elevations. Small slab avalanches may step down to this layer resulting in large, destructive avalanches. This problem is best managed by finding low-angle, simple terrain.
South-southwest winds have formed slabs around ridges and open areas. Expect to find deeper and more reactive deposits in areas affected by wind. Small slabs may also step down triggering deeper instabilities.
On Friday, a large (size 2) glide slab avalanche was observed near the Coquhalla summit. Note that we have had limited field reports in this region.
Up to 30 cm of recent snow is settling quickly. A surface crust may have formed on south and west aspects and lower elevations, wind-affected surfaces are found in open and exposed areas.
Below recent snow, 60-100 cm settling snow covers a crust/facets or surface hor and is the failure plane responsible in many recent avalanches. Reports indicate that some areas have a second crust at a similar depth. In either case, these crusts continue to produce whumpfs and concerning snowpack test results at treeline.
Sunday night
Scattered flurries, up to 10 cm snow. Southwest ridgetop wind 30-50 km/hr. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level dropping below 900 m.
Monday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, and up to 5 cm snow. South ridgetop wind 40 gusting to 70 km/hr. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level around 1200 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with flurries, 5-15 cm wet snow. Southwest ridgetop wind gusting to 50 km/hr. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level around 1200 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. Southwest ridgetop wind 30-50 km/hr. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level dropping below 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
