Several weak layers are buried in the snowpack making now a good time to dig a snow profile before choosing where to ride. If you do dig - we'd love to hear what you find. Click on the pin icon to the submit to the Mountain Information Network
Confidence
Fair - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Synopsis: The next strong front is forecast to move across the province on Sunday before a ridge of high pressure builds that looks to last for several days. Saturday: Snow starting in the evening with light accumulations, moderate southwesterly winds and freezing level at valley bottom. Sunday: Cloudy with periods of snow and light northerly winds. Monday: Mainly cloud with a few flurries and light northerly winds.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity has been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Recent snowfall may sit above a rain crust which exists in many places up to 1900m or old, stiff wind slabs at higher elevations. 75 cm below the surface you may find a hard, thick crust that was buried in mid-December. In many places this crust is overlaid by facets and/or surface hoar. In areas where the overlying slab is thick and cohesive, large avalanches are possible at this interface. Closer to the ground a crust/facet interface that formed in November seems to be dormant for the time being.
Problems
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.
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.