Human triggered avalanches will be possible on freshly loaded slopes.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT: Flurries starting overnight with accumulations of 2-5 cm by the morning, moderate west wind, alpine temperatures drop to -10 C.FRIDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulations of 5-15 cm, strong southwest wind, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.SATURDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulations of 1 to 3 cm, light southwest wind, alpine temperature -10 C.SUNDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods, light southeast wind, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, a skier triggered a size 1.5 wind slab avalanche on a steep, rocky, south-facing slope near Whistler. No new avalanches were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
Expect 5-15 cm of new snow along with strong southwest wind on Friday to reshape the snow surface and form fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. The new snow will bury a sun crust on south-facing slopes. In sheltered areas, 10 to 30 cm of low-density faceted snow is gradually settling onto old hard surfaces including crusts and wind-packed snow. Low-density snow may sluff easily on these hard surfaces. The lower snowpack is strong and settled.
Problems
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.