For the best riding seek out sheltered slopes with the deepest snowpack that hasn't been wind-affected. Be extra cautious at treeline and higher elevations on the downwind side of ridges and rib features.
With expected storm snow accumulations of less than 25 cm there should be a standard wind slab problem with cohesive snow most commonly found on the lee side of ridges or ribs. However, with the sugary-faceted-weak snowpack avalanches could potentially step down to the middle of the snowpack.
No new reports since the weekend. Keep sharing your observations via the MIN; it helps strengthen our information gathering.
In deeper zones near ridges the snowpack is around 120 to 170 cm, which is low for early December. Alpine terrain in windy areas is scoured and bare.
Surface: Boot top powder in deep areas. Same old crusts, facets, and rocks on wind scoured slopes.Upper-pack: In sheltered areas below the fresh snow is well developed surface hoar. Generally there's 40 to 70 cm of low density and faceting (aka weak) snow in the upper pack.Mid-pack: November crust, with a layer of soft facets above. This is the primary weak layer, found pretty much halfway down.Lower-pack: facets and depth hoar (aka not strong).
Thursday NightStorm winding down so only a few cm of snow overnight. Total accumulation for the past two days around 15 to 20 cm in deeper snow areas like the Coquihalla. SW wind diminishing to light. Treeline temps around -10 C
FridayMix of sun & cloud depending where you are, flurries bringing just a trace of snow. Light SW wind. Temps near treeline around -10 C.
SaturdayAnother weak disturbance bringing maybe 5 to 10 cm of snow with moderate SW wind. Treeline temperatures warming to around -5 C.
SundayDry to a trace of snow with flurries. Mostly cloudy. Light wind but from a new direction -- north or east outflow in the passes and valleys. Steady temperatures in the -5 to -10 range up at treeline.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
