Riding conditions are improving but don't let your guard down, especially in wind loaded terrain.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
A brief break Friday before the snow starts again on Saturday. FRIDAY: Isolated flurries, light southeast winds, freezing level 1000m, SATURDAY: 10cm new snow, strong south winds, freezing level 1000m. SUNDAY: up to 30cm new snow, moderate southwest winds, freezing level 800m.
Avalanche Summary
We’re continuing to receive reports of large storm slab avalanches from the Whistler area that is likely indicative of what is going on in much of the Sea to Sky region. This cycle is expected to continue as a series of storms pummels the coast range over the next couple of days.
Snowpack Summary
Over a meter of snow has fallen in the high alpine in the last week. Southwesterly winds are loading lee features in the alpine. A rain crust can be found in the upper snowpack up to 2200m. Below tree-line snow depths are probably still below threshold for avalanches although I expect we'll be crossing that line some time by the end of the forecast period.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.