Heavy snowfall and strong winds overnight - Expect to find a reactive storm slab by morning. Or fresh snow just barely covering lower elevation hazards.
This problem is trending towards dormant, especially where a thick supportive crust is found down 20-40 cm (south of Whistler, this supportive crust reaches mountain tops). A heavy input of new snow may test this layer.
Heavy snowfall and strong wind are forecast overnight and will add to recent snow. The touchiest deposits will be around ridges and in wind-affected terrain. At lower elevations, the snowpack may be below the threshold for avalanches.
On Friday morning, explosives triggered storm slabs to size 1.5.
On Thursday, a few 1-1.5 slab avalanches were triggered in the Whistler Backcountry. Riders found reactive slabs 10-30 cm deep around ridges and in wind-loaded start zones. (see this MIN)
At the end of December, large and surprising avalanches failed over a crust down 50-100 cm (now deeper with new snow). Reports indicate this layer is becoming dormant, with no recent avalanches failing on this layer.
10-20 cm of snow accumulated through Friday. Upwards of 30 cm of snow is forecast by Saturday morning.
10-30 cm of fresh and recent snow covers a crust that formed around the new year. This crust may exist up to mountain tops, and seems to be thick and supportive to the weight of a human south of Whistler, and more variable in thickness and strength to the north, where it thins out above 1900 m. Down 50-100 cm, facets or isolated surface hoar covers an early Dec crust. This layer last produced surprising avalanches on Dec 31st, however, recent reports suggest this layer is becoming dormant.
The lower snowpack is strong and bonded. Treeline snowpack depths 60-100 cm and decrease rapidly below treeline.
Friday Night
Snowing. 20-40 cm of snow accumulating overnight. Very strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -4 °C.
Saturday
Snowfall slowing early morning. Northwest ridgetop wind decreasing to moderate. Treeline low around -8 °C.
SundayA mix of sun and clouds. No precipitation. Light north ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -12 °C.
MondayCloudy with flurries, 5-10 cm snow. Increasing southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low around -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
