A heavy load of new snow is primed for human-triggering. More snow and wind intensifying through Monday will increase an already elevated avalanche hazard.
Buried weak layers are most concerning at treeline elevations. Small avalanches may step down to this layer resulting in very large destructive avalanches.
Storm snow totals have exceed 100 cm and winds have exceeded 100 km/hr. More snow and wind are forecast. Storm slabs are expected to produce natural avalanches and be reactive to human-triggers.
A reactive snowpack Saturday around Whisler and Brandywine produced whumpfing and rider-triggered avalanches to size 1.5. A few rider-triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported late Sunday as this forecast went to publish.
A widespread avalanche cycle to size 2.5 occurred early Saturday around the Homathko area, with crowns depths to 150 cm and failing within treeline elevations on the early February crust interface.
30 cm overnight snowfall on Sunday morning with another 30 cm snow through the day. Storm totals exceed 100 cm and cover a variety of surfaces including surface hoar. Strong south winds have and continue to strip snow from ridgelines and exposed features and deposit new snow into deep pockets in lee aspect terrain.
Below recent snow, 120-160 cm of older snow covers crust/facet or surface hoar layer. This layer continues to show sensitivity to human triggers, and is most concerning at treeline elevations where weak grains like facets and surface hoar are more easily preserved.
Sunday night
Continued snowfall, 10-20 cm overnight, with 2-day accumulation exceeding 70 cm by Monday morning. Southwest ridgetop wind 25-30 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level near 700 m.
Monday
Flurries, 10 cm snow through the day with heavy snowfall intensifying Monday night. Southeast ridgetop wind 40-60 km/h. Treeline temperature - 3 °C. Freezing level around 900 m.
Tuesday
Snow, up to 20 cm by morning and another 10 cm through the day. Southwest ridgetop wind 20-40 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level near valley bottom.
Wednesday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm. Southwest ridgetop wind gusting 20-30 km/hr into strong. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
