Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Conditions are improving, but windslabs remain a concern at treeline and above.
Confidence
Good - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
Freezing levels will remain at the valley bottom for the next few days. A pulse of Pacific moisture will move onshore this afternoon and evening, bringing 2 to 5 cm of precipitation to the area. Some low lying areas may see freezing rain as the system moves onshore. A ridge of high pressure will rebuild over the interior of the province briefly and another Pacific frontal system should arrive on the north coast early in the week bringing rising temperatures and more precipitation.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, several size 1.5 explosive controlled avalanches were reported. Reports of natural avalanche activity have diminished, but the potential for human triggering is still a concern.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow amounts vary across the region. Some southern areas received close to 1m of new snow and northern areas probably around half that. Strong winds have redistributed large amounts of the recent storm snow and rain in some areas has produced a surface crust layer that will be of concern with future snow loading. A buried surface hoar layer in the mid-snowpack is still on the radar in northern sections like Bear Pass and Ninginsaw Pass. The mid December crust can also be found in the middle of the snowpack and is sandwiched with facets and surface hoar. The November crust down near the bottom of the snowpack is generally well bonded but may be reactive in some locations..
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.