Fresh storm snow will need time to settle and stabilize. Watch for changing snow conditions in wind affected terrain and at higher elevations.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: 5-10 cm of snow overnight then gradual clearing throughout the day, light northwest wind, alpine temperatures around -10 C.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, moderate northwest wind, alpine temperatures around -8 C.TUESDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind, alpine temperatures warming to -5 C.
Avalanche Summary
Recent storm snow has been reactive to skier traffic the past few days including several size 1 storm slabs and sluffing in steep terrain. On Saturday, a cornice fall triggered a size 2 storm slab on a northeast aspect at 2250 m in the Monashees.
Snowpack Summary
Friday night's storm delivered anywhere from 10-25 cm of new snow. Total amounts of snow over the past few days varies from 30-70 cm, with even deeper deposits at higher elevations. In most areas the new snow sits above crusts left over from the warm rainy weather in late November. Some snowpack tests indicate a weak bond between the storm snow and the crusts, which warrants extra caution in big, steep, unsupported terrain. The average snow depth is over 200 cm in the alpine, 100-180 cm at treeline, and decreases rapidly below treeline where the primary hazards are rocks, stumps, and open creeks.
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.