Investigate the bond of the recent snow and be most suspect in open areas, around ridges, or in loaded start zones.
Snow fell with strong southwesterly wind, and quickly developed reactive slabs. Wind transitions northerly, suspect areas will be around ridges and (previously) wind-affected terrain, and in pockets with deep depositions.
On Friday, skiers reported triggering sluffing with the fresh snow. Further west, Whistler-Blackcomb avalanche control reported reactive storm slabs to size 1.
No new avalanches have been reported recently.
If you head into the backcountry, please consider submitting observations and/or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
20-40 cm snowfall accumulated by Saturday with strong southwesterly wind, deeply loading lee features. 30-60 cm of recent and settling snow covers the Dec 30 crust; this crust is more prominent at treeline and below, and varies in thickness and strength across the forecast area.
The Dec 20 crust is now down 50-100 cm, covered with facets and isolated surface hoar. This layer is trending dormant with the last avalanches occurring on Dec 31st (in areas south and west of Pemberton)
Snowpack depths are 80-120 cm around treeline and decrease rapidly below.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear skies with no precipitation. Northwest ridgetop wind decreasing to 10-20 km/h. Treeline temperature -18 °C.
Sunday
Mostly sunny with no precipitation. Light northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
MondayCloudy with light flurries. Increasing southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
TuesdayCloudy with flurries. 5-10 cm of snow. Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
