South Coast Inland

As this past week's storm snow continues to settle it will still be important to evaluate the bond between the old snow surface and the new snow. There is still potential for a weak sliding layer in isolated sheltered areas.

30-60cm new snow overlies the previous variable snow surface from last week, which includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or surface hoar. New wind slabs that have formed in response to southwest winds. In the Duffey Lake area, recent snowpack tests gave hard sudden results down 60 cm at the interface between the recent storm snow and old snow on rounding faceted crystals. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down approximately 1-1.5m. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones.

High - The weather pattern is stable

Friday: Mainly cloudy / Light northerly wind / Alpine temperature -9Saturday: Sunny with cloudy periods/ Light northeast wind / Alpine temperature -10Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -10

Reports in the Duffy Lake area on Tuesday indicate a few natural avalanches running to size 2 in the alpine. I would suspect there to be continued potential for skier and rider triggering with recent strong winds creating wind slabs at upper elevations and a possible weak bond at the storm/old snow interface with the possibility of buried surface hoar in isolated sheltered areas.