Avoid wind loaded areas.
Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
Expect to find the touchiest deposits under ridgetop features or steep rolls. Slabs may fail on a layer of surface hoar in sheltered spots.
On Thursday, there were several small skier-controlled wind slabs.
On Wednesday, there were a few small slabs triggered with explosives near Whistler.
On Tuesday, there were several large (size 2) storm slabs triggered with explosives near Whistler. As well as several, small dry loose avalanches from steep terrain.
15 to 20 of recent snow has been redistributed by strong to extreme wind. In some areas, there is a layer of surface hoar underneath that was buried on Monday.
Underneath the approximately 50 cm of snow that fell this year there is a crust on south-facing slopes, and surface hoar in isolated, sheltered features.
The mid-December crust is 100 to 200 cm deep and well-bonded to the snow above. Above 2200 m, this crust is absent and a layer of facets and a crust from November is found at the base of the snowpack. These layers are not currently a concern.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Friday
Cloudy. Up to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 20 to 25 cm of snow. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Sunday
Cloudy. 20 to 50 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
