A stable weather pattern has allowed danger ratings to fall. Continue to practice good travel habits and verify conditions as you travel. Isolated wind slabs may still be found at higher elevations. Head to sheltered terrain at higher elevations for the best snow.
These isolated pockets of at higher elevations may remain reactive to human triggers in lee terrain near ridge crest or in extreme terrain. Fresh wind slabs may form as southwest winds increase during the day.
As avalanche danger decreases, keep up good travel habits when moving through avalanche terrain.
The high pressure begins to break down Friday with an active system bringing light to moderate snowfall over the weekend.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Valley cloud with clear skies above. Moderate southwest winds, freezing levels around 2500 m with an inversion present.
FRIDAY: Scattered cloud begins to build, moderate to strong southwest winds. Freezing levels fall below 1500 m over the day. Alpine high of +1.
SATURDAY: A mix of sun and cloud, with moderate southwest winds. Freezing levels below 1500 m. Alpine high of -2. Scattered flurries possible.
SUNDAY: Snowfall begins Saturday evening, delivering 10-30cm by Sunday evening. Freezing levels remain around 1000 m. Light to moderate southwest winds. Alpine high of -3.
No new avalanches were reported on Wednesday.
Explosive control work near Whistler on Tuesday produced a cornice fall that triggered a size 2.5 deep persistent slab on the weak facetted crystals above the early December crust. The slab was triggered mid slope, 60-130cm deep. This indicates that while the weak layer is unlikely to be affected by skiers and riders, it is still triggerable by very large loads.
A thick melt freeze crust sits on the surface on all aspects up to 2300 m. Sunny alpine slopes may have a thin melt freeze crust on the surface, from solar affect. Direct sun is reportedly softening the crusts only on steep south facing slopes throughout the day.
High alpine elevations still hold pockets of dry snow. Moderate winds have redistributed this into wind slabs mostly found on north through east facing slopes, however recent wind directions have varied so expect loading on all aspects around ridge line.
The early December crust/facet layer can be found around 100-200 cm deep, most prominent between 1700 and 2100 m. In shallow features it may sit only 60cm below the surface. This layer showed no reactivity from the warming event on the weekend and is currently classified as dormant. Large loads may still be able to trigger avalanches on this layer, especially in terrain where the snowpack thins.
