The snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy in this region. We expect the avalanche hazard to rise with the incoming weather system.
Wind slabs are present with the recent snow in the alpine and exposed tree line features. Watch for wind slab development on top of the Jan 27th melt freeze crust.
Watch out for loose wet avalanches initiating on solar aspects at lower elevations as temperatures rise.
The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Avalanches initiating in the upper snowpack are likely to step down to this layer and gain significant mass.
A size 2.5 deep persistent slab just south of Marmot, as well as a couple wind slabs up to size 2 in the Churchill Slide Paths area, were observed from 93N on Saturday, .
Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.
Up to 10cm of new snow over the last few days has been redistributed by strong SW winds, creating wind slabs in the alpine and into exposed tree line. A weak melt freeze crust facet combo down 25cm below 2100m is showing sudden collapse results in snow pit tests. Generally, the bottom of the snowpack is weak facets and depth hoar.
A low pressure system moving through BC will bring rising temperatures and strong winds on Sunday, with most precipitation beginning Sunday night.
Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
