As the storm snow settles, winds have begun to create reactive wind slabs.
Seek out the best snow in areas sheltered by the wind.
Shifting winds have begun to redistribute recent storm snow on nearly all aspects. Reactive wind slabs are to be expected in exposed areas.
Although this problem is most likely to be seen at higher elevations, you should expect to see wind slabs in exposed areas below treeline elevations.
Two weak layers consisting of a crust with small facets above it are buried between 60 and 90 cm deep. If triggered, these layers could produce large destructive avalanches. They would need a heavy load to trigger them, such as a cornice fall, or by first triggering a smaller avalanche that could step down to this interface. This problem seems to be more of an issue west of the Sea to Sky highway corridor.
Several storm slab and wind slab avalanches, up to size two, have been reported over the last few days. These were triggered naturally, accidentally, and with explosives. One was even triggered remotely.
For a deeper dive into conditions, check out this awesome South Coast Conditions report posted by Zenith Guides.
Southerly winds have begun to redistribute this past week's storm snow. Wind slabs are expected in exposed terrain. In some areas, this new snow has bonded poorly to the underlying surface consisting of stiff wind slabs and facets formed by last week's wind and cold temperatures.
Deeper in the snowpack 60 to 180 cm down exists two crusts with facets sitting above them. They can be found in alpine and treeline elevation bands. If triggered these layers could produce massive avalanches.
The remainder of the mid and lower snowpack is well-settled, strong, and consolidated.
Saturday Night
Cloudy with clear periods, 2 to 5 cm accumulation, winds northeast 15 to 20 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with some sunny breaks, up to 5 cm accumulation, winds east 15 to 25 km/h, treeline temperatures -6 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds southeast 15 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 °C.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud, around 2 cm accumulation, winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h, treeline temperatures -10 to -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
