Confidence
Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Trace amounts of new snow with a chance of broken skies / Light northwest winds (with strong gusts) / Freezing level at 800mSunday: Moderate to locally heavy snowfall / Moderate to strong west winds / Freezing level at 1000mMonday: Light snowfall / Light southwest winds / Freezing level at 700m
Avalanche Summary
On Friday widespread avalanche activity to size 2 was observed on low-angle simple terrain in the Garibaldi South area. Observations were generally minimal on Friday; however, I would suspect that to be a reflection of poor visibility rather than actual conditions. Although natural activity may slow down on Saturday, the possibility of a skier, boarder or sledder triggering a large avalanche is very real.
Snowpack Summary
Heavy amounts of new snow and strong winds have created deep and potentially destructive storm slabs. Underneath the new snow, you may find surface hoar that was buried on February 20th. Field reports suggest that it is reactive in the Garibladi South area. Where it exists, surface hoar will likely prolong the reactivity of the newly developed slab, so it's very possible that the new snow will take some time to stabilize. The mid and lower snowpack layers are generally strong and well settled.Total snow depths vary from around 400 cm in the south to around 180 cm in the north.
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.