Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

The low pressure system that hit the North Coast on Thursday night will reach the South Coast on Friday but will have weakened to the point that only minimal precipitation is expected. A weak ridge will build on Saturday and Sunday before the next low pressure system impacts the South Coast on Monday.Friday: Cloudy, light precipitation, freezing levels around valley bottom, light westerly windsSaturday: Mostly cloudy, dry conditions, freezing levels around valley bottom, light NW windsSunday: Mostly cloudy, dry conditions, freezing levels around 500m, light NW winds

No new avalanches reported.

Recent strong westerly winds have created pockets of touchy wind slab in exposed lee terrain and cross-loaded features, and scoured windward slopes. Roughly 20-30cm of settling storm snow overlies a variety of old surfaces which formed during the early December cold snap. These surfaces include sugary faceted snow (which may overlie a crust in some areas), spotty surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and hard wind slab on south-facing alpine terrain.  The storm snow generally appears to be well bonded to this interface but instabilities make exist in isolated areas.Snowpack depths vary greatly across the region, but are significantly lower than average for this time of year. Terrain below treeline is still mostly below threshold for avalanche activity. Early season riding hazards such as rocks, stumps and logs are lurking below the surface at treeline elevations. In glaciated terrain the forecast snow might just be enough to hide open crevasses where supportive snow bridges have not yet developed.