Get ready for another winter storm. Avalanche hazard will rise as snow accumulates.
A few natural suspect avalanches were reported Jan 6. There have been few recent observations on this layer, especially where a thick supportive crust is found down 80-140 cm (south of Whistler, this supportive crust reaches mtn tops).
With previous low density available for transport, expect fresh slabs to build with wind and more falling snow. At lower elevations, fresh snow may now provide enough coverage to reach the threshold for avalanches.
Control work on Saturday produced numerous storm slabs and cornices to size 2. A natural avalanche cycle to size 2.5 with loose snow avalanches to size 1.5 likely tapered early Saturday morning.
A couple of large and suspect (regarding the PWL) avalanches were reported in the Whistler Backcountry and north of Pemberton. A crust deep in the snowpack (80-140 cm down) last produced avalanches Dec 31, and a likely suspect.
Another system of heavy snowfall and wind is forecast to begin Monday.
50-100 cm fresh and recent storm snow covers a crust buried Jan 1. This crust may exist up to mountain tops, and seems to be thick and supportive to the weight of a human south of Whistler, and more variable in thickness and strength to the north, where it thins out above 1900 m.
A crust from early Dec is now down 80-140 cm. A couple of large, suspect avalanches were reported on Jan 6; we will continue to track this layer. Snowpack depths are 120-230 cm around treeline and decrease rapidly below.
Sunday Night
Cloudy with isolated flurries. Light increasing ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with flurries, 10 cm. Southwest ridgetop gusting to strong. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
TuesdayHeavy snow, 20-40 cm. Very strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
WednesdaySnowfall decreasing, 10 cm. Moderate and decreasing north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
