Isolated wind slabs exist on exposed north and east facing slopes in the alpine. Evaluate wind-affected terrain carefully as human-triggered wind slab avalanches are possible.
Where winds have redistributed new snow into lee terrain features watch for slab development. Be especially cautious of north and east facing alpine terrain.
On Tuesday, a size 1 skier accidental storm slab was reported in the McBride area.
We expect users who head into the backcountry on Thursday will find evidence of a small, natural loose wet avalanche cycle from solar input on southerly aspects.
10 to 30 cm of storm snow covers the surface at higher elevations. As winds pick up, the new snow will be redistributed by primarily southwest wind into lee terrain features at alpine and treeline. The new snow sits above a crust or moist snow except on high northerly aspects above 2000 m where snow remained dry.
The lower snowpack is settled and well bonded.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. Ridgetop wind south 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 1 to 6 cm of snow at upper elevations. Ridgetop wind southwest 10 to 25 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Friday
Mix of sun and cloud with 1 to 3 cm of snow at upper elevations. Ridgetop wind southwest 10 to 25 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud with 1 to 4 cm of snow at upper elevations. Ridgetop wind southwest 15 to 30 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
