There is great riding to be had but don't let your guard down. Avalanche hazard still exists, especially on ridge loaded and cross loaded terrain at upper elevations.
Confidence
High - The weather pattern is stable
Weather Forecast
The storm that is forecast to hit the North Coast unfortunately won't have much effect further south. Saturday will be mainly dry with light flurries starting overnight through Sunday. No significant precipitation is expected for Monday. Winds will continue to be mainly light and variable through the forecast period. The cold Artic air mass entrenched over much of BC will keep things cool with freezing levels at or close to valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
There haven't been any reports of recent natural activity but people have been getting surprised by isolated pockets of wind slab. A skier was involved in a size 2 avalanche in the Joffre group on Wednesday that released from a wind loaded pocket at ridgeline. Another group of skiers were startled by a wind slab on a cross loaded feature at treeline in the Spearhead on Tuesday. Guides in the area are reporting that cornices are getting large and are them with caution.
Snowpack Summary
Between 45 and 75 cm of new snow has fallen over the last week with lots of low density snow still to be found in sheltered areas. In exposed locations variable south-easterly through westerly winds have formed wind slabs in lee features at ridgeline and on cross loaded slopes. Older, but still reactive wind slabs may be hidden under the more recent snow. In the Coquihalla, the storm snow is sitting on a sun-crust on steep solar aspects. At lower elevations, you may be able to find either isolated pockets of surface hoar or a crust with facets that was reported to be buried on December 17th. Reports from the field indicate that this layer is now starting to break down.
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.