Forecast light snowfall will continue to improve ski conditions but is not expected to increase the hazard. Early season conditions persist, the snowpack varies dramatically with aspect and elevation - please factor this into your decision making.
Weather Forecast
We are into a relatively benign weather pattern for this week. A weak front sliding down from the North will bring light snowfalls to the area today, and possibly Wednesday, as it nudges against a ridge of high pressure which continues to build over Southern BC.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 30 cm of new snow since Dec. 10th was redistributed into fresh storm slabs by light-mod SW-NW winds. 3 buried crusts exist; two from early December are widespread below tree-line, and one from mid November at all elevations which was scoured clean in exposed areas prior to last weeks storm - these have not produced any recent avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported.
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.
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.