Fresh storm slabs remain primed for human triggers. Use small slopes without consequence to test the bond of the new snow.
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY NIGHT: Snow; 5-10 cm. / Moderate to strong, southwesterly winds / Low -7 / Freezing level 1000 m.SATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / Light, westerly winds / High -8 C / Freezing level dropping rapidly to 500 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 1-3 cm. / Light, northwesterly winds / High-15 C / Freezing level surface.MONDAY: Mostly sunny / Light, northwesterly winds / High -15 C / Freezing level surface.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous explosive triggered size 2 storm slab avalanches were reported near Whistler on Friday. I would expect these storm slabs to remain reactive to human triggers on Saturday.
Snowpack Summary
40-50 cm of new snow with strong southwesterly winds have covered a variety of snow surfaces. These include crusts on all but northerly aspects, wind-pressed surfaces on northerly aspects in the alpine, and a mixture of surface hoar (weak feathery crystals) and surface facets (sugary grains) in terrain sheltered from wind/sun at treeline and below.There have been no recent avalanches reported on the weak layers deeper in the upper snowpack.The remainder of the snowpack is currently well-settled and strong in most locations.
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.