Strong north winds have transported a lot of light and dry snow, wind slabs are lurking! The avalanche danger is heightened in the alpine.
Intense wind transport of 70 cm of light and dry snow occurred from strong north through east winds. Wind slabs will be found on all aspects with growing hazards focused on south through west aspects.
Use caution when entering terrain below ridgelines and in areas that harbor deep pillows of wind-deposited snow.
The past week's storm snow is forming a slab that may not bond well to the underlying snowpack. The layer of concern formed mid-November is composed of faceted grains, surface hoar, and a hard crust and can be found down 40 to 80 cm.
On Tuesday a helicopter explosive mission near Sukunka creek triggered a few size-one wind slab avalanches. One windslab size 2.5 (very large) was triggered with a large explosive on a south aspect at 2200 m. The avalanche was described as fast-moving, with the powder debris splitting onto two separate avalanches.
Reports from an observation flight on Monday over the Sentinel pass indicate that a past natural storm slab avalanche cycle occurred in steep rocky terrain only. Avalanches in this cycle were up to size 2.5 (very large).
Observation of windslabs naturally triggered have been reported on north aspect terrain between 1350 m and 1450 m, likely occurring on the reported melt-freeze crust.
Please consider sharing your observations via the Mountain Information Network to help us and fellow recreationists.
The storm last week delivered to this region between 40 to 80 cm of new snow. Winds were strong from the southwest during this event, and terrain exposed to this wind has been stripped with new snow building into wind slabs on north aspects.
During the past storm event a period of warming brought rain up to nearly 1500 m and now a melt-freeze crust can be found down 70 cm.
During mid-November, a period of cooling temperatures created a weak layer above the 1200-meter mark and can be found down 80 cm.
Average snowfall depths are around 20 to 60 cm below the treeline and 100 to 120 cm in the alpine.
A strengthening Arctic ridge over the B.C. interior will bring to the area a clearing sky and very cool temperatures.
Thursday Night
Clear sky no forecast precipitation, 10 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperature -25 °C.
Friday
Clear sky no forecast precipitation, 30 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperature -25 °C.
SaturdayAfternoon clouds, the potential for light flurries in the afternoon, accumulations of 1cm, Near calm conditions in the am with afternoon winds building to 30 km/h northwest, treeline temperature -20 °C.
SundayMostly cloudy with very light flurries, accumulation 1 cm, 20 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -19 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
