Another storm will impact the South Coast ranges Saturday and could extend into this region.
Dial back your terrain choices if there is more than 25 cm of recent snow where you are riding.
Lights precipitations and strong southerly winds will continue to develop wind slabs at upper elevations. These slabs may not bond well to the underlying surfaces, especially if a melt-freeze crust is present. Rider-triggerable avalanches will be possible, on steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
Rain and above-freezing temperatures have weakened the snowpack at low elevations, which may remain weak until a solid crust forms. Watch for unstable snow on steep terrain, where loose avalanches are likely to get triggered.
In the last 24 hours, a few natural thin wind slabs were observed in alpine and at treeline as well as loose wet avalanches (up to size 2) at lower elevations. Tuesday, a skier accidentally triggered a storm slab/wind slab from a north-facing alpine slope on Face Mountain.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
10-15 cm of new snow was received Thursday night in higher elevations. Moist snow or crusty surface formed up to 1900 m on all aspects due to warm weather on Thursday. At upper elevations, shady wind-sheltered areas may still hold dry, low-density snow. This overlies on a variety of surfaces, including melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects, wind-affected snow on open slopes and leeward features. Low elevations are melting out rapidly.
A weak layer of sugary facets is still prominent at the base of the snowpack. Although we haven't seen avalanche activity on it for some time, it could reactivate with sudden changes like prolonged or intense warming shocking the snowpack. Large loads like cornice falls are likely to trigger this layer, but human triggering may be possible in rocky, shallow, or thin-to-thick snowpack areas.
Windy conditions are expected as two more storms will roll into the South Coast ranges over the weekend. A stronger impulse is forecasted for Sunday, with moderate precipitation.
Friday night
Cloudy. Isolated flurries. Strong southwest wind gusting 60 km/h Alpine low -6 °C. Freezing level steady at 1200 m.
Saturday
Cloudy. Isolated flurries. Local amount up to 10 cm. Strong southwest wind gusting 60 km/h Alpine high -5 °C. Freezing level rises to 1500 m.
Sunday
Snow 15-20 cm. Strong southwest wind gusting 50 km/h Alpine high -2°C. Freezing level rises to 1700 m.
Monday
Cloudy. Isolated flurries. Moderate southwest wind gusting 40 km/h Alpine low -3 °C. Freezing level steady at 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
