Despite the green brick, we have lingering concerns for persistent slabs in this area, where the snow is deeper, and a 20-40 cm slab may overlie the Jan 24 layer. The presence of a cohesive slab is the key part of this Problem, as the weak layer exists in many places, but the slab does not. It's the combination of both that makes the Problem.
Wind slabs may exist in the alpine on steep lee aspects resulting from south and west winds moving up to 15 cm of recent snow. Watch for drifted snow, and use any opportunities to test on small terrain features, and check the stability of the surface snow.
A 10-30 cm slab over crusts and/or a surface hoar layer from Jan 24th is a problem that could catch users off guard in isolated locations just above, or just below treeline. Check the snowpack often: monitor the character and behaviour of the slab above this weak layer closely.
No new avalanches observed or reported.
Up to 15 cm of recent snow has been blown into windslabs in alpine areas, but provides soft powder at treeline and below. Under this new snow lies a variety of crusts on solar aspects; dry snow on north aspects, and surface hoar/crust (Jan 24) down 15-30 cm around the treeline. Below this interface, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled.
While the storm track continues to pound the north coast of BC, a ridge of high pressure mainly dominates the interior and the Rockies. A few residual cm of snow are expected overnight Tuesday, followed by a dry week ahead. Temperatures will be cool: -5 to -10, with light to moderate winds out of the southwest.
