Persistent weaknesses deeper in snowpack still can't be totally trusted. Approach big open slopes with caution, especially in shallow snowpack areas.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries bringing trace amounts of fresh snow, light southerly winds, alpine temperature around -10.SATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries and trace amounts of fresh snow, light southeasterly winds, alpine temperature around -10.SUNDAY: Mainly cloudy with light flurries, light becoming moderate southwesterly winds and alpine temperatures around -15.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported. Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggering on specific features, such as the immediately lee of ridges and sun-exposed slopes.
Snowpack Summary
Surface hoar and surface facets may buried by up to 15 cm of fresh snow in some places. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Moderate southeasterly winds are likely keeping winds slabs fresh in some areas, while old wind slabs are breaking down with faceting in other areas. Facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December recently gave moderate but broken snowpack test results where it was found down a metre or more. In a shallow snowpack area, recent snowpack tests gave moderate sudden collapse results on this persistent weakness. This suggests that the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas; however, the potential for step-down avalanches remains where it is deeper. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.
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Avalanche Canada
