1 meter and counting

Since January 2nd, approximately 1 meter and change of snow has fallen in the Powder Highway region. Needless to say, the skiing has been fantastic.

The depth of storm snow (HST) varies across the region with storm totals being a little lower in the Kootenays, more in the Monashees and less in the Purcells. Over the past ten days, there has been a fair amount of natural and skier triggered avalanche activity on the January 2nd persistent weak layer (PWL) which consists of surface hoar (SH) and a melt freeze crust MFcr on steep solar aspects. With the current round of precipitation and warming, this layer will start to subside in areas where it is deeply buried, while on the Eastside of the Columbias, (the Purcells) it will probably continue to persist for a while longer; though it will become more stubborn and harder to predict.

Here is a video of the recent ski quality:

Snow Pack Concerns:

Storm Slabs/Wind Slabs Strong winds will redistribute the new snow into lee features. These could be deep slabs and could produce large and destructive avalanches.

Cornices The warm temperatures coupled with the new snow could build some sizeable cornices. These will be fresh and sensitive to solar input or human triggers when the sun comes out.

Jan 2 PWL The Jan 2 PWL will remain on the radar, though it will become progressively more stubborn as time progresses and more snow piles on top of it. Expect it to be more reactive on the east side of the Columbias where it is more shallowly buried.

Wet loose/ Wet Slabs in the southern and western part of the Powder Highway Region as freezing levels rise on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Outlook

Currently we are in the midst of another heavy bout of precipitation and warming temperatures. Parks Canada has flown the black flag in the alpine for Rogers Pass today with 21cm in the last 13hrs warming temperatures and strong winds. Forecasted freezing levels are expected to peak tomorrow followed by a cooling trend. Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast here.