Watch for unstable slabs on steep wind-affected slopes.
Wind slabs avalanches are possible in alpine terrain and along ridges. With the incoming weather expect new wind slabs to form on north and east facing slopes, while previous outflow winds have left stiff wind slabs on south and west facing slopes. These slabs may be more reactive where they overlie a hard crust layer.
No significant avalanches were reported over the last few days. The last notable avalanche activity was at the end of last week, when several wind slabs avalanches were reported during a period of northerly wind. Riders should continue to be cautious around isolated pockets of wind slabs at treeline and alpine elevations.
5 to 15 cm of new snow is falling on a mix of crusts and hard wind-affected snow. Recent northerly outflow winds affected open areas in the alpine and treeline, souring windward slopes and creating pockets of stiff wind slabs in lee areas. A thin breakable crust can be found at or near the surface on all aspects at treeline and above. This crust is thick and supportive below treeline and on steep solar aspects.
A crust from mid-January can be found down 40 to 70 cm deep. A number of weak layers exist within the middle and lower snowpack, but the thick crusts sitting above them make triggering avalanches on these layers unlikely. The areas of concern in terms of triggering a deeper layer are shallow rocky areas.
Tuesday night
Overnight flurries with 5 cm of snow around Squamish/Whistler and 10 cm around Powell River, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -8 ˚C.
Wednesday
Flurries continue through the morning with another 3 to 5 cm of snow, cloudy in the afternoon, 30 to 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures warm to -5 ˚C.
ThursdayMostly cloudy with some sunny breaks, no precipitation, 30 to 50 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures warm to -3 ˚C.
FridayStormy with 20 to 30 cm of new snow, 40 to 70 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures warm to -3 ˚C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
