The weather over the next few days will provide great travel conditions but remain cautious around older wind slabs that could be sitting on weaker snow.
Wind slabs vary in age across the region but can be sitting on weaker crystals so triggering is still possible. Tread with caution on stiff, drum-like snow as firm wind slabs can be unpredictable.
No new avalanches have been reported in this region since the weekend.
Saturday some notable avalanches were remotely-triggered from low angle terrain in the Norns area north of Castlegar. These size 1 and 2 avalanches failed on a 30 cm deep weak layer and occurred on southeast slopes in upper treeline terrain. Otherwise, over the past few days there have been a few small (size 1) skier-triggered slab avalanches in the top 20 to 30 cm of snow.
In the coming days, slab avalanches will remain possible in the top 20 to 40 cm of snow, most likely on wind-affected slopes where this snow has more slab characteristics.
Surface conditions are variable and include sun crusts, wind-affected snow, and in some places up to 10 cm of snow above surface hoar. Sheltered areas have 20 to 40 cm of soft snow from last week. This snow sits above a layer of surface hoar or decomposing crusts, that could develop into a problem when buried more deeply. The lower snowpack contains weak and faceted grains, but these layers have not recently produced avalanches.
Tuesday night
Clear. Winds from the northwest at 15 km/h. Temperature -10˚C.
Wednesday
Clear. Winds from the southwest at 15 km/h. Temperature -10˚C to -3˚C. Freezing levels around 1100 m.
ThursdayA mix of sun and clouds. No precipitation. Winds from the southwest at 30 km/h. Temperature -9˚C in the morning rising to -2˚C in the afternoon. Freezing levels up to 1000 m.
FridayA mix of sun and clouds. Flurries possible in the afternoon. Winds from the southwest 10 km/h. Temperature -6˚C in the morning rising to -3˚C in the afternoon. Freezing levels up to 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
