Cornices are large and fragile.
Give them a wide berth, as even brief sun may trigger cornice failure and initiate wind slabs below.
Recent storm snow and southwest winds have built wind slabs. Avalanches are expected to be larger and more likely on west through north facing slopes.
Cornices are large and fragile. Avoid travelling on or under them.
Over the past week around Whistler, storm slabs (size 1–1.5) were rider-triggered early week, mainly on north-facing alpine slopes. Midweek, explosives produced a large (size 2) cornice fall entraining loose dry snow. Thursday saw a small (size 1) wind slab from ski cutting. Friday, explosives triggered large (size 2) storm slab and cornice avalanches.
15 to 30 cm of snow accumulated last week, with strong to extreme south west wind. Expect deeper, more reactive deposits in leeward terrain. In the alpine on windward terrain expect to find scoured, hard, and wind affected snow.
40 to 60 cm overlies a widespread, thick and hard crust below about 2000 m, and old wind-affected snow at upper elevations.
Deeper in the snowpack, older weak layers currently buried 70–100+ cm have likely gained strength, and are not considered a problem at this time.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Monday
Sunny. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
