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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the alpine,5-10 cm of new snow has buried old wind slabs. A couple observers have reported small surface hoar forming over the past couple days which is now buried by the new snow. This layer's distribution is not expected to be widespread, though where it does exist, will be especially reactive with the new snow that is expected on Friday and Saturday. The mid-November crust is now down 60-120 cm. This layer has been may become active as the snow load increases. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled. Snowpack depths vary greatly throughout the region with an average of 110-190 cm at treeline elevations. Early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks remain the primary hazards below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">Observations are limited in this region. Old wind slabs in wind affected alpine terrain, especially below ridge tops. The crust formed in mid-November is down 60-80 cm. Average snowpack depths at treeline are 70-150 cm with generally less snow in the southern portions of the region. Early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks remain the primary hazards below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow and strong winds will likely build wind slabs on open leeward slopes and behind terrain features. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited but the threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Reports suggest that the snow depth at treeline is typically 110-150 cm but a report from the east side of region shows only 80 cm at treeline. The snowpack tapers off drastically below treeline and below 1700 m there is not yet enough snow for avalanches. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region but the threshold for avalanches is expected to have been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Limited reports suggest snow surfaces at higher elevations are wind-affected. This suggests wind slabs should be on your radar as you gain elevation. Kananaskis Country to the north of the region is currently reporting that 30-40 cm of snow is now overlying the mid-November crust layer. Conditions are likely similar in the South Rockies. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New storm slabs will blanket the region, continuing to bury a recent surface hoar layer. Areas with this layer and where buried wind blasted surfaces exist may be more reactive. Watch for shallow wind affected areas that may not gain strength as quickly as deeper well settled snowpack areas. Snow depths increased rapidly last week bringing treeline snow depths to about 200 cm. The mid- November crust is buried anywhere from 20-200 cm depending on aspect and elevation. So far this crust has been unreactive, however; this new load may be the breaking point especially in shallower snowpack areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A light snowfall overnight Tuesday has covered a layer of 15mm surface hoar that was reported on the snow surface in the north of the region on Monday. Treeline snowpack depths are around 140cm in the Duffey Lake area, but closer to 60cm in Coquihalla Pass. Slopes that were loaded by southwest winds during recent storms still hold deep pockets of touchy wind slab. A layer of 3-5mm surface hoar has been observed at approximately 60cm below the surface in the Pemberton area and has produced easy snowpack test results. A thick crust can be found in the mid-pack down roughly 70-100cm at treeline elevations or deeper in the alpine. Moist snow exists in the bottom 50cm of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Heavy snowfall and extreme southwesterly winds will form touchy storm slabs on Friday. Storm snow totals could reach 30-50 cm by Friday afternoon, with the potential for much more on lee features. The new snow will load a buried surface hoar layer reported 60-80 cm below the surface in many parts of the region. On Wednesday, a ski tourer reported numerous whumpfs caused by the surface hoar layer in the Terrace area. Also, snowpack tests indicated the layer can be triggered with moderate loads and has the potential to propagate over long distances. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets forming above the crust. Treeline snow depths are around 120-140 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Snow in these thinner areas, such as Ningunsaw, may be facetting and developing weak basal layers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A frontal system crossing the region will bring 5-15 cm of new snow by Friday afternoon with extreme southerly winds. The new snow will likely form touchy wind slabs on lee features. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now likely sits beneath 20-30 cm of settling snow. Wind slabs may be extra touchy above preserved surface hoar. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 30-40 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the alpine,10-15 cm of new snow has buried old wind slabs. A couple observers have reported small surface hoar forming over the past couple days which is now buried by the new snow. This layer's distribution is not expected to be widespread, though where it does exist, will be especially reactive with the new snow that is expected on Friday and Saturday. The mid-November crust is now down 80-150 cm. This layer has been may become active as the snow load increases. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled. Snowpack depths vary greatly throughout the region with an average of 130-200 cm at treeline elevations. Early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks remain the primary hazards below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Observations are very limited in this region. In the alpine, 5-10 cm of new snow has buried old wind slabs.  The mid-November crust is down around 100 cm. Average snowpack depths at treeline are 140-180 cm with generally less snow in the northern parts of the region. Below treeline, rocks, stumps, and open creeks remain the primary hazards.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but the threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Most areas below treeline are below threshold for avalanches with only the smoothest open slopes beginning to reach threshold. The snowpack depth is reported to be 140-180cm at treeline and above. Remote weather data and recent Mountain Information Network posts from the Kootenay Pass area suggest wind slabs may exist on lee slopes just below ridge crest; however, we are unsure of the reactivity or the distribution of the problem throughout the region. This problem may develop further with forecast winds and 5-10 mm over the next couple of days. A thick crust from mid-November is down around 70 cm and recent reports suggest the layer is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow. Below this crust layer the snowpack is reported to be moist or wet to the ground at treeline elevation.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Overnight we had up to 7cm of new snow. This new snow came in very slow and was spotty in nature. Some areas saw only a few cm's. Like yesterday, there is no significant impact on the snowpack as a whole. The windslabs are still the main concern followed by the Nov 12th crust interface. Down 30 to 50cm respectively.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Forecast snowfall and wind on Friday will create deep, widespread, and very touchy storm slabs as low as treeline elevation. At higher elevations, this new snow will overlie existing storm slabs which are rapidly gaining strength. Total snowpack depths are likely around 160cm at treeline and over 2 metres at higher elevations. Aside from instabilities in storm snow, warm temperatures are promoting rapid settlement and strengthening of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">The new snow and wind on Friday night will create fresh storm slabs in the alpine and open areas at treeline. A couple observers reported small surface hoar forming over the past week which is now buried. This layer's distribution is not expected to be widespread, though where it does exist, will be especially reactive with the new snow once it forms a slab. The mid-November crust is now down 60-120 cm. Test results on this layer have been highly variable ranging from easy to unreactive. This layer may become more active as facets begin to form on the crust and the snow load increases. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled. Snowpack depths vary greatly throughout the region with an average of 110-190 cm at treeline elevations. Watch out for stumps, rocks, and open creeks below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">Observations are limited in this region. The new snow and wind on Friday night will create fresh storm slabs in the alpine and open areas at treeline. The Mid-November crust is now down 40-90 cm. This layer may become more active as facets begin to form on the crust and the snow load increases. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled. Snowpack depths vary greatly throughout the region with an average of 70-150 cm at treeline elevations. Watch out for stumps, rocks, and open creeks below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow and strong winds will likely build new storm slabs and wind slabs on open leeward slopes and behind terrain features. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited but the threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Reports suggest that the snow depth at treeline is typically 110-150 cm but a report from the east side of region shows only 80 cm at treeline. The snowpack tapers off drastically below treeline and below 1700 m there is not yet enough snow for avalanches. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region but the threshold for avalanches is expected to have been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Limited reports suggest snow surfaces at higher elevations are wind-affected. This suggests wind slabs should be on your radar at treeline elevations and in the alpine. Kananaskis Country to the north of the region is currently reporting that 30-50 cm of snow is now overlying the mid-November crust layer. Conditions are likely similar in the South Rockies. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A fresh storm slab is blanketing the region, continuing to bury a surface hoar layer that could be found up to 15cm deep in the snowpack on Thursday. Areas with this layer and where previously wind affected surfaces exist will be more reactive as the new load increases. Watch for shallow wind affected areas that will not gain strength as quickly as deeper, well settled snowpack areas. Snow depths increased rapidly last week, bringing treeline snow depths to about 200 cm. The mid-November crust is buried anywhere from 20-200 cm depending on aspect and elevation. While this crust has been unreactive thus far, increasing load may bring it to its breaking point, especially in areas with shallow or variable snowpack depth.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">New snow and strong winds are building on existing wind slabs at higher elevations and in exposed areas throughout the region. These slabs may overlie a layer of well-developed surface hoar that was found approximately 15 cm below the snow surface in the north of the region on Monday.  Treeline snowpack depths are around 150cm in the Duffey Lake area, but closer to 60cm in Coquihalla Pass. A layer of 3-5mm surface hoar has been observed at approximately 60cm below the surface in the Pemberton area and has produced easy snowpack test results. A thick crust can be found in the mid-pack down roughly 70-100cm at treeline elevations or deeper in the alpine. Moist snow exists in the bottom 50cm of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow totals reached 30-50 cm by Friday afternoon, with the potential for much more on lee features due to strong winds. The new snow will load a buried surface hoar layer reported 60-80 cm below the surface in many parts of the region. Recent snowpack tests indicated the layer can be triggered with moderate loads and has the potential to propagate over long distances. This layer will likely become reactive under the stress of this new load. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets (sugary snow) forming above the crust. Treeline snow depths are around 120-140 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Snow in these thinner areas, such as Ningunsaw, may be faceting and developing weak basal layers.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow combined with strong winds have likely formed touchy wind slabs on lee features. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now likely sits beneath 20-30 cm of settling snow. Wind slabs may be extra touchy above preserved surface hoar. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 40-50 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets (sugary snow) above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow and wind on Friday night will create fresh storm slabs in the alpine and open areas at treeline. A couple observers reported small surface hoar forming over the past week which is now buried. This layer's distribution is not expected to be widespread, though where it does exist, will be especially reactive with the new snow once it forms a slab. The mid-November crust is now down 80-150 cm. Test results on this layer have been highly variable ranging from easy to unreactive. This layer may become more active as facets begin to form on the crust and the snow load increases. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled. Snowpack depths vary greatly throughout the region with an average of 130-200 cm at treeline elevations. Watch out for stumps, rocks, and open creeks below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Observations are very limited in this region. The new snow and wind on Friday night will create fresh storm slabs in the alpine and open areas at treeline. The mid-November crust is down around 100 cm. This layer may become more active as facets begin to form on the crust and the snow load increases. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled. Average snowpack depths at treeline are 140-200 cm with generally less snow in the northern parts of the region. Watch out for stumps, rocks, and open creeks below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Fresh storm slabs are building with new snow and wind at upper elevations. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but the threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Most areas below treeline are below threshold for avalanches with only the smoothest open slopes beginning to reach threshold. The snowpack depth is reported to be 140-180cm at treeline and above.  A thick crust from mid-November is down around 70 cm and recent reports suggest the layer is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow. Below this crust layer the snowpack is reported to be moist or wet to the ground at treeline elevation.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Not much change in the snowpack in terms of new snow. What was noted today was the increase in alpine winds. By the end of the day there was ongoing transport in most alpine areas. Windslabs remain the most significant problem in gullies. They may be growing in thickness, and becoming more reactive as they become stiffer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15-20cm of new snow has formed fresh storm slabs in alpine and treeline elevations. Rain is beginning to saturate this new snow at lower elevations. At higher elevations, the new snow overlies existing storm slabs which are rapidly strengthening. Total snowpack depths are likely around 160cm at treeline and over 2 metres at higher elevations. Aside from instabilities in storm snow, warm temperatures are promoting rapid settlement and strengthening of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snowfall and strong alpine winds from the southwest have formed storm slabs. These slabs are thickest and most reactive in leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the recent storm snow may sit over a layer of small surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding the distribution of this surface hoar in the region but it was reported in a couple locations in the Monashees west of Revelstoke. The mid-November crust is now down 60-120 cm. Test results on this layer have been highly variable ranging from easy to unreactive. While there has not been much avalanche activity on this layer yet, it has many professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the upcoming period of cold weather. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled. Snowpack depths vary greatly throughout the region with an average of 110-190 cm at treeline elevations. Watch out for stumps, rocks, and open creeks below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowpack observations are still quite limited in this region. The new snowfall and strong alpine wind on Friday and Saturday is expected to have formed new storm slabs in the alpine and open areas at treeline in the deeper snowpack areas of the region. The mid-November crust is now down 40-90cm. This layer may become more reactive if weak facets form on the crust and the snow load increases. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled. Snowpack depths vary greatly throughout the region with an average of 70-150cm at treeline elevations. Watch out for stumps, rocks, and open creeks below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New storm slabs and wind slabs have formed on open leeward slopes and behind terrain features. On Friday these slabs were very touchy and failing as natural avalanches. The threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine as reports suggest that the snow depth at treeline is typically 110-150 cm but a report from the east side of region shows only 80 cm at treeline. The snowpack is still developing below treeline and has yet to reach threshold. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm. </span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region but the threshold for avalanches is expected to have been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Limited reports suggest snow surfaces at higher elevations are wind-affected. This suggests wind slabs should be on your radar at treeline elevations and in the alpine. Kananaskis Country to the north and&nbsp; Waterton to the south of the region is currently reporting&nbsp; 30-50 cm of snow overlying the mid-November crust layer. Conditions are likely similar in the South Rockies. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As of Saturday about 15cm of recent storm snow had been redistributed by strong southwest winds into reactive wind slabs in higher elevation terrain. With more snow and wind forecast for Saturday night, this developing slab will only increase in size and destructive potential. Below the recent storm snow you may find a layer of buried surface hoar which formed during last week's clear weather, although the size and distribution of this layer is largely unknown at this time. The mid-November melt-freeze crust is widespread and is buried anywhere from 20-200 cm depending on aspect and elevation. Although snowpack tests have shown this layer to be mainly unreactive, I'd expect increased reactivity with this layer in shallow, wind-affected alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As of Saturday about 10cm of new snow had fallen in the Duffey area while about 35 cm had fallen in the Coquihalla area. Wind data has been limited, although wind stations in the neighbouring Sea to Sky region suggest strong southwest winds redistributed much of the new snow into reactive wind slabs in higher elevation terrain. With more snow and wind forecast for Saturday night, this developing slab will only increase in size and destructive potential. Below the recent storm snow you may find a layer of buried surface hoar which formed during last week's clear weather. This layer was reported to be well-developed in some parts of the Duffey area, although not much is know about its current size or distribution. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another layer of 3-5mm surface hoar has been observed at approximately 60cm below the surface in the Pemberton area and has produced easy snowpack test results. A thick crust can be found in the mid-pack down roughly 70-100cm at treeline elevations or deeper in the alpine.</span><span class="s_1681A555"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Although snowpack tests have shown this layer to be mainly unreactive, I'd expect increased reactivity with this layer in shallow, wind-affected alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow totals reached 30-65 cm by Saturday, with the potential for much more on lee features due to strong winds. The new snow will load a buried surface hoar layer reported 60-80 cm below the surface in many parts of the region. Recent snowpack tests indicated the layer can be triggered with moderate loads and has the potential to propagate over long distances. This layer will likely become reactive under the stress of this new load. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets (sugary snow) forming above the crust. Treeline snow depths are around 120-140 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Snow in these thinner areas, such as Ningunsaw, may be faceting and developing weak basal layers.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow combined with strong winds have likely formed touchy wind slabs on lee features. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now sits beneath 20-30 cm of settling snow. Wind slabs may be extra touchy above preserved surface hoar. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 40-50 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets (sugary snow) above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snowfall and strong alpine winds from the southwest have formed storm slabs. These slabs are thickest and most reactive in leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the recent storm snow may sit over a layer of small surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding the distribution of this surface hoar in the region but it was reported in a couple locations in the Monashees west of Revelstoke. The mid-November crust is now down 80-150cm. Test results on this layer have been highly variable ranging from easy to unreactive. While there has not been much avalanche activity on this layer to this point, it has many professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the upcoming period of cold weather. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled and is reported to be moist at lower elevations. Snowpack depths vary greatly throughout the region with an average of 130-200 cm at treeline elevations. Watch out for stumps, rocks, and open creeks below treeline. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Observations are very limited in this region. The new snow and wind on Friday and Saturday are expected to have created new storm slabs in the alpine and open areas at treeline. The mid-November crust is down around 100 cm. This layer may become more reactive if facets form on the crust and the snow load increases. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled. Average snowpack depths at treeline are 140-200 cm with generally less snow in the northern parts of the region. Watch out for stumps, rocks, and open creeks below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but the threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Some areas below treeline are below threshold for avalanches with only the smoothest open slopes beginning to reach threshold. Fresh storm slabs are building with new snow and wind, and are expected to be most reactive in high elevation, wind-affected terrain. A thick melt-freeze crust from mid-November is down around 70 cm. Recent observations indicate the layer is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow; however, reports of sudden test results in the South Columbia region suggest we shouldn't write this layer off just yet. The snowpack below this is generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">30-50cm of snow is overlying the November 12th Melt freeze crust which is being found up to 2500m on all aspects.  So far, field tests are showing that overlying snow is bonding to this crust fairly well.  This may change as more load is applied to the crust.  In alpine area in immediate lees, pockets of pencil hard windslab are being encountered up to 20cm thick.  These slabs do not extend far downslope, but they are certainly in the realm of being triggerred by a skier.  </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15-20cm of new snow and strong winds have formed fresh storm slabs at alpine and treeline elevations while rain may have saturated the snowpack at lower elevations. At higher elevations, the new snow overlies existing storm slabs which are rapidly strengthening. Total snowpack depths are likely around 160cm at treeline and over 2 metres at higher elevations. Aside from instabilities in storm snow, warm temperatures are promoting rapid settlement and strengthening of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The weekend storm system brought 30-60cm of new snow to the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. The resulting storm slabs are thickest and most reactive in leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the recent storm snow may sit over a layer of small surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding the distribution of this surface hoar in the region but it was reported in a couple locations in the Monashees west of Revelstoke. The mid-November crust is now typically down 1-1.5m in the snowpack. Test results on this layer have been highly variable ranging from sudden and easy to unreactive. While there has not been much avalanche activity on this layer yet, it has many professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the upcoming period of cold weather. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled and is reported to be moist at lower elevations. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowpack observations are still very limited in this region. The new snowfall and strong alpine wind on Friday and Saturday formed wind slabs up to 40cm thick in the north of the region. The mid-November crust is typically down 50-90cm. Weak facets are reported to be forming above and below this crust layer in the north of the region. With the upcoming cold weather, continued faceting is expected around this layer and it has the potential to create a persistent slab problem in the future as more snow accumulates.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New storm slabs and wind slabs have formed on open leeward slopes and behind terrain features. The threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine as reports suggest that the snow depth at treeline is typically 110-150 cm but a report from the east side of region shows only 80 cm at treeline. The snowpack is still developing below treeline and has yet to reach threshold. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region but the threshold for avalanches is expected to have been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Some parts of the region to the east may have received up to 20 cm of new snow in the past 24hrs. This new snow may be sifted into new wind slabs on leeward slopes or burying old snow surfaces and hard wind slab. This suggests wind slabs should be on your radar at treeline elevations and in the alpine. Kananaskis Country to the north and Waterton to the south of the region is currently reporting 30-50 cm of snow overlying the mid-November crust layer. Conditions are likely similar in the South Rockies.&nbsp; </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong to extreme southwest winds have dramatically affected higher elevations by redistributing 20 cm of recent storm snow into stubborn wind slabs. Below the recent storm snow you may find a layer of buried surface hoar which formed during last week's clear weather, although the size and distribution of this layer is largely unknown at this time. The mid-November melt-freeze crust is widespread and is buried anywhere from 30-200 cm depending on aspect and elevation. Although snowpack tests have shown this layer to be mainly unreactive, I'd expect increased reactivity with this layer in shallow, wind-affected alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On Saturday night, heavy snowfall brought up to 50 cm of new snow in the Coquihalla area, 25 cm around Manning Park, and 10 cm in the Duffey area. This new snow likely formed touchy storm slabs, especially on steep or wind loaded slopes. Below the recent storm snow you may find a layer of buried surface hoar which formed during last week's clear weather. This layer was reported to be well-developed in some parts of the Duffey area, although not much is know about its current size or distribution. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another layer of 3-5 mm surface hoar has been observed 60 cm below the surface in the Pemberton area and has produced easy snowpack test results. A thick crust can be found throughout the region in the mid-pack, down 70-100 cm at treeline elevations or deeper in the alpine.</span><span class="s_1681A555"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Although snowpack tests have shown the crust to be mainly unreactive, I'd expect increased reactivity with this layer in shallow, wind-affected alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow totals reached 30-75 cm by Sunday, with the potential for much more on lee features due to strong southwest winds. The new snow buried a surface hoar layer reported 60-100 cm below the surface in many parts of the region. This layer was reportedly reactive during the storm. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets (sugary snow) forming above the crust. Treeline snow depths are around 120-140 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow combined with strong winds from the southwest have likely formed touchy wind slabs on lee features. Forecast switching winds from the northeast may reverse load slopes and catch you by surprise. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now sits beneath 40-50 cm of settling snow. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets (sugary snow) above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The weekend storm system typically brought 30-60cm of new snow to the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. The resulting storm slabs are thickest and most reactive in leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the recent storm snow may sit over a layer of small surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding the distribution of this surface hoar in the region but it was reported in a couple locations in the Monashees west of Revelstoke. The mid-November crust is now typically down 1-1.5m in the snowpack. Test results on this layer have been highly variable ranging from sudden and easy to unreactive. While there has not been much avalanche activity on this layer yet, it has many professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the upcoming period of cold weather. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled and is reported to be moist at lower elevations.  The snowpack depth tapers off substantially below around 1700m elevation and many early season hazards are still a concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The weekend storm system brought 40-60cm of new snow to the southern part of the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine.  The resulting storm slabs are thickest and most reactive in leeward features in wind exposed terrain. The mid-November crust appears to typically be down 1-1.5m in the south of the region, and around 80cm down in the north of the region. Test results on this layer suggest the crust is generally well bonded in the Cariboos region. However, test results from the North Columbia region suggest there may be an isolated weakness associated with this layer and it has professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the upcoming period of cold weather. </span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of new snow fell in the region on Saturday night, adding to the existing storm slab problem. Expect storm slabs to be most reactive at higher elevations and where winds have deposited greater amounts of snow. A thin surface hoar layer that formed last week may exist beneath the recent storm snow. A thick melt-freeze crust from mid-November is down around 75 cm. Recent observations indicate the layer is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow; however, reports of sudden test results in the South Columbia region suggest we shouldn't write this layer off just yet. The snowpack below the crust is generally strong and well-settled. Snowpack depths are 130-160 cm at treeline elevations. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">20-30 cm of storm snow is overlying a buried wind slab. This new snow and the buried wind slab down 50cm are both reactive to snow pit tests in the Alpine. These two layers are certainly a concern for triggering. The November 12th melt-freeze crust is now 40-60cm down from the surface and is still showing a good bond with the snow above. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Low density snow will accumulate on Monday as dropping temperatures will also bring snow to lower elevations. Saturday night saw 5 cm of new snow in the Howe Sound area and 15-25 cm towards the eastern parts of the region. With a total of 30-50 cm of recent storm snow, fresh storm slabs will continue to form in the alpine and at treeline. Total snowpack depths are around 160 cm at treeline and over 2 metres at higher elevations, with the mid-pack rapidly gaining strength.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The weekend storm system brought 30-60cm of new snow to the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. Reactive wind slabs are expected to be lingering in leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the recent storm snow may sit over a layer of small surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding the distribution of this surface hoar in the region but it was reported in a couple locations in the Monashees west of Revelstoke. The mid-November crust is now typically down 1-1.5m in the snowpack. While isolated snowpack tests show a potential weakness associated with the crust, in most areas the crust is well bonded to the surrounding snow and the layer is generally considered unreactive for the time being. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the upcoming period of cold weather. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled and is reported to be moist at lower elevations. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The weekend storm system brought 20-40cm of new snow to the region with strong southwest winds in the alpine. The resulting wind slabs are thickest and most reactive on north and east aspects in wind exposed terrain. The mid-November crust is typically down 50-80cm. Weak facet crystals are reported to be forming above and below this crust layer. With the ongoing cold weather, continued faceting is expected around this layer and it has the potential to create a persistent slab problem in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New storm slabs and wind slabs have formed on open leeward slopes and behind terrain features. The threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine as reports suggest that the snow depth at treeline is typically 110-150 cm but a report from the east side of region shows only 80 cm at treeline. The snowpack is still developing below treeline and has yet to reach threshold. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Fresh storm snow 25-30 cm has fallen on old, stiff wind slabs and may have a poor bond to the old snow surfaces. Early season snowpack observations are still limited in the region but the threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Kananaskis Country to the north and Waterton to the south of the region is currently reporting 30-50 cm of snow overlying the mid-November crust layer. Conditions are likely similar in the South Rockies.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface conditions are highly variable throughout the region. Strong winds over the weekend formed hard and stubborn wind slabs on lee features, and scoured windward features. 10-20 cm of low density snow exists in sheltered areas an offers the best and safest riding. Thin sun crusts can be expected to form on steep south-facing slopes with clear skies. Surface snow will likely begin to facet with cold air temperatures in the upcoming days, possibly creating a weak interface when the next storm arrives. The mid-pack is generally strong, with a widespread mid-November crust buried anywhere from 30-200 cm depending on aspect and elevation. Snowpack tests have shown the crust to be mainly unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow from the weekend is settling throughout the region, as 70 cm of new snow fell in the Coquihalla area, 30 cm around Manning Park, and 20 cm in the Duffey area. Snowpack tests on Sunday suggest the new snow was poorly bonded with the old snow. Overall, the storm snow is likely more reactive than in the neighboring Sea to Sky region. Several surface hoar layers have been reported in the northern part of the region, including a 30 cm deep layer with 1-2 mm decomposing surface hoar at treeline in the Duffey area, and a 60 cm deep layer with 3-5 mm surface hoar in the Pemberton area. Information on the distribution and reactivity of these layers is limited. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">A widespread crust can be found 70-100 cm deep throughout the region. Although this layer has been generally unreactive throughout all of the Coast Mountains, it may be possible to trigger this layer in shallow wind-affected starts zones, as recent observations in Manning Park found a mix of surface hoar and facets above the crust were reactive to snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow totals reached 30-80 cm over the weekend  with the potential for more on lee features due to strong southwest winds. The new snow buried a surface hoar layer reported 60-100 cm below the surface in many parts of the region. This layer was reportedly reactive during and after the storm. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets (sugary snow) forming above the crust. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow combined with strong winds from the southwest have likely formed touchy wind slabs on lee features. Forecast switching winds from the northeast may reverse load slopes and catch you by surprise. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now sits beneath 40-50 cm of settling snow. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets (sugary snow) above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The weekend storm system typically brought 40-70cm of new snow to the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. The wind has redistributed the storm snow into leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the recent storm snow may sit over a layer of small surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding the distribution of this surface hoar in the region but it was reported in a couple locations in the Monashees west of Revelstoke. The mid-November crust is now typically down 1-1.5m in the snowpack. Test results on this layer have been highly variable ranging from sudden and easy to unreactive. While there has not been much avalanche activity on this layer yet, it has many professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the upcoming period of cold weather. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled and is reported to be moist at lower elevations. The snowpack depth tapers off substantially below around 1700m elevation and many early season hazards are still a concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The weekend storm system brought 40-60cm of new snow to the southern part of the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. The resulting storm slabs are thickest and most reactive in leeward features in wind exposed terrain. The mid-November crust appears to typically be down 1-1.5m in the south of the region, and around 80cm down in the north of the region. Test results on this layer suggest the crust is generally well bonded in the Cariboos region. However, test results from the North Columbia region suggest there may be an isolated weakness associated with this layer and it has professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the upcoming period of cold weather.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25 cm of low density snow from the weekend is settling and will be thickest and most reactive on leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the storm snow may sit above either a thin drizzle crust or small surface hoar layer, possibly making it more reactive. Surface hoar or surface facets will likely develop in the upcoming days, possibly creating a weak interface when the next storm arrives. A thick melt-freeze crust from mid-November is buried 40-80 cm deep. Facets have recently been reported above this crust, suggesting it may be possible to trigger this layer in shallow alpine start zones. The lower snowpack is generally strong and well-settled. Snowpack depths are 130-160 cm at treeline elevations.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We have about 40cm of snow that fell in the last storm.  This is sitting on top of a significant wind slab.  For the time being, the November crust is buried approximately 50-60cm and will be slower to deteriorate.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">As of Monday afternoon, 30-45 cm of new snow has fallen in the South Coast mountains and is expected to continue into Monday evening. The new snow will form touchy storm slabs on Tuesday, especially at higher elevations and on wind loaded features. 30-50 cm of snow from last weekend's storm is rapidly settling, although a MIN report from Sunday suggests there were some instabilities in the old storm snow. Total snowpack depths are around 170 cm at treeline and over 2 metres at higher elevations, with the mid-pack rapidly gaining strength. Thanks to the riders in the Sky Pilot area for their recent MIN reports!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The weekend storm system brought 30-60cm of new snow to the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. Reactive wind slabs are expected to be lingering in leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the recent storm snow may sit over a layer of small surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding the distribution of this surface hoar in the region but it was reported in a couple locations in the Monashees west of Revelstoke. The mid-November crust is now typically down 1-1.5m in the snowpack. While isolated snowpack tests show a potential weakness associated with the crust, in most areas the crust is well bonded to the surrounding snow and the layer is generally considered unreactive for the time being. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially during this period of cold weather.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The weekend storm system brought 20-40cm of new snow to the region with strong southwest winds in the alpine. The resulting wind slabs are thickest and most reactive on north and east aspects in wind exposed terrain. The mid-November crust is typically down 50-80cm. Weak facet crystals are reported to be forming above and below this crust layer. With the ongoing cold weather, continued faceting is expected around this layer and it has the potential to create a persistent slab problem in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New storm slabs and wind slabs have formed on open leeward slopes and behind terrain features while the mid pack is reportedly well settled. The threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine as reports suggest that the snow depth at treeline is typically 110-150 cm but a report from the east side of region shows only 90 cm at treeline. The snowpack is just reaching threshold below treeline. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of recent storm snow has buried old snow surfaces including surface hoar hand old, stiff wind slabs. This new snow may have a poor bond to those underlying surfaces. Early season snowpack observations are still limited in the region but the threshold for avalanches has been exceeded at treeline and in the alpine. Kananaskis Country to the north and Waterton to the south of the region is currently reporting 30-50 cm of snow overlying the mid-November crust layer. Conditions are likely similar in the South Rockies. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface conditions are highly variable throughout the region. Strong winds over the weekend formed hard and stubborn wind slabs on lee features, and scoured windward features. With winds shifting to the northeast, new soft wind slabs may be forming on south and west aspects. 10-20 cm of low density snow exists in sheltered areas and offers the best riding. Surface snow has begun to facet with the cold air temperatures, and will likely create a weak interface when the next storm arrives. The mid-pack is generally strong, with a widespread mid-November crust buried 70-100 cm at treeline and anywhere from 30-200 cm deep in alpine terrain. Snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A trace of new snow sit above settling storm snow from the past weekend, with 60 cm of storm snow in the Coquihalla area, 30 cm around Manning Park, and 20 cm in the Duffey area. Storm snow instabilities appear to be settling out, with the greatest potential for triggering in wind affected terrain at higher elevations. Several surface hoar layers have been reported in the northern part of the region, including a 30 cm deep layer with 1-2 mm decomposing surface hoar at treeline in the Duffey area, and a 60 cm deep layer with 3-5 mm surface hoar in the Pemberton area. Information on the distribution and reactivity of these layers is limited. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">A widespread crust can be found 70-100 cm deep throughout the region. Although this layer has been generally unreactive throughout all of the Coast Mountains, it may be possible to trigger this layer in shallow wind-affected starts zones, as recent observations in Manning Park found a mix of surface hoar and facets above the crust were reactive to snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow totals reached 30-80 cm over the weekend with the potential for more on lee features due to strong southwest winds. Switching winds from the northeast will likely reverse load slopes and new wind slabs may surprise you. The recent snow buried a surface hoar layer down 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer was reactive during and after the storm and is likely still reactive to human triggers. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets (sugary snow) forming above the crust, however; that interface hasnt become a concern as of yet. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Switching winds from the northeast may reverse load slopes, forming new atypical wind slabs that could catch you by surprise. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now sits beneath 40-50 cm of settling snow. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets (sugary snow) above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The weekend storm system typically brought 40-70cm of new snow to the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. The wind has redistributed the storm snow into leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the recent storm snow may sit over a layer of small surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding the distribution of this surface hoar in the region but it was reported in a couple locations in the Monashees west of Revelstoke. The mid-November crust is now typically down 1-1.5m in the snowpack. Test results on this layer have been highly variable ranging from sudden and easy to unreactive. While there has not been much avalanche activity on this layer yet, it has many professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the current period of cold weather. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled and is reported to be moist at lower elevations. The snowpack depth tapers off substantially below around 1700m elevation and many early season hazards are still a concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last weekend's storm system brought 40-60cm of new snow to the southern part of the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. The wind during the storm and more recent northerly wind has redistributed the storm snow forming wind slabs in alpine and tree line lees. The mid-November crust appears to typically be down 1-1.5m in the south of the region, and around 80cm down in the north of the region. Test results on this layer suggest the crust is generally well bonded in the Cariboos region. However, test results from the North Columbia region suggest there may be an isolated weakness associated with this layer and it has professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the current cold weather.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25 cm of low density snow from last weekend is settling, but may be thicker and more reactive on leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the new snow may sit above either a thin drizzle crust or small surface hoar layer. New surface hoar up to 8 mm in size has been reported growing on the surface, and will continue to develop during this fair weather period. Watch for slopes with developing surface hoar or surface facets because the new snow may bond poorly when the next storm arrives. A thick melt-freeze crust from mid-November is buried 40-80 cm deep. Facets have recently been reported above this crust and may continue to develop with the cold temperatures, suggesting it may be possible to trigger this layer in shallow start zones. The lower snowpack is generally strong and well-settled. Snowpack depths are 130-160 cm at treeline elevations.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 25cm of low density recent storm snow overlies a buried wind slab. In the Alpine these buried wind slabs are reacting to stability tests in the &quot;hard&quot; range. Isolated pockets of recently formed wind slab were observed at ridge-crest in the Alpine, formed both by reverse loading and lee loading. The Nov 12th crust is now buried 65cm at Treeline and has not been reactive to stability tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Monday delivered 40-60 cm of new snow to the South Coast, with the heaviest accumulations on the North Shore. The new snow likely sits above a supportive melt-freeze crust, providing a bed surface for storm slabs to run on. The new snow was not bonding well with the crust on Tuesday, and may take longer than usual to stabilize due to the cold arctic air currently over the region. The lower snowpack is well settled and strong. Total snowpack depths are 160-200 cm at treeline, with isolated pockets deep enough for avalanches at below treeline elevations.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The recent storm snow is settling slowly due to the cold temperatures. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in the alpine in some areas, and others report little or no wind resulting in loose unconsolidated snow. The depth of the mid-november crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a wide array of results from moderate sudden planar to hard resistant planar. Watch for near surface facets developing in the upper snowpack that may develop a poor bonding layer before the next storm. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below that may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snow has formed wind slabs on northerly aspects in the alpine that are reactive to light additional loads like a single skier/rider. The cold temperatures and clear skies are developing near surface facets, and may be preserving surface hoar that was buried on the weekend. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-november crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. Snowpack and crust depths increase as you move west into the Selkirks. It sounds like there is a bit less snow on the ground in the south of the region, but we have not had many observations at this time. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and below that may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future. Please let us know what you find by posting to the MIN (Mountain Information Network).</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm slabs and wind slabs have formed on open leeward slopes and behind terrain features in exposed areas. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. There is sufficient snow on the ground for avalanches at treeline and alpine elevations, and possibly in some below treeline locations. Reports suggest typical treeline snow depths are around 110-150 cm, but a report from the east side of region indicated a much lower snow depth of around 90 cm. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of recent storm snow has buried old snow surfaces including surface hoar and old, stiff wind slabs. The cold temperatures will have promoted surface faceting, which probably means the top layer of snow is soft in most places. Treeline snow depths around Elkford are only around 60 cm; I suspect they are slightly higher in places like the Flathead, but generally conditions are lean. Threshold snow depths for avalanches have been exceeded in the alpine and at treeline, but not below treeline. In shallow areas, the snowpack is most likely facetted (sugary) throughout, and any crusts have probably broken down already. In deeper areas, you can probably find the mid-November crust buried under half a metre or so of snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface conditions are highly variable throughout the region. Last weekend strong southerly winds scoured windward features and formed hard and stubborn wind slabs on lee features. However, northeast winds are currently loading south and west aspects, resulting in a complex distribution of wind slabs in exposed terrain. Low density snow remains in sheltered areas and offers the best riding. Surface snow has begun to facet with the cold air temperatures, and will likely create a weak interface when the next storm arrives. The mid-pack is generally strong, with a widespread mid-November crust buried 70-100 cm at treeline and anywhere from 30-200 cm in alpine terrain. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow from the past weekend is gradually settling throughout the region. Storm snow totals in the Coquihalla area were 40-60 cm, while northern parts of the region only received 10-30 cm. Storm snow instabilities appear to be settling out, with the greatest potential for triggering in wind affected terrain at higher elevations. Surface snow has begun to facet and soften with the cold air temperatures, and will likely create a weak interface when the next storm arrives. Buried surface hoar layers have been reported in the northern part of the region, including a 30 cm deep layer at treeline in the Duffey area that was reactive to skier triggering on the weekend, and a 60 cm deep layer in the Pemberton area. There is no recent information on the reactivity of these layers. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">A widespread crust can be found 70-100 cm deep throughout the region. Although this layer has been unreactive in recent snowpack tests, cold temperatures will promote facet growth around the crust and make it possible to trigger this layer in shallow wind-affected starts zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The storm from last weekend brought 30-80 cm of cold powder. This new snow has been blown around by the wind - first by southwesterly winds during the storm, then by northerly winds with the onset of arctic air, and now by easterly outflow winds. As a result, expect wind slabs in a wide variety of locations. Unless you're really certain about the recent local wind history, the safest bet is to assume wind slabs could be present on all aspects in exposed alpine, treeline, and even some below treeline locations. The recent snow buried a surface hoar layer, which now lies 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer was reactive during and after the storm and is likely still reactive to human triggers. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets (sugary snow) forming above the crust; however, that interface hasn't become a concern as of yet. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent winds have blown from many directions, most recently from the east. As a result, expect wind slabs to exist on a wide variety of exposed slopes. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now sits beneath 40-50 cm of settling snow. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets (sugary snow) above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The weekend storm system typically brought 40-70cm of new snow to the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. The wind has redistributed the storm snow into leeward features in wind exposed terrain. In some areas, the recent storm snow may sit over a layer of small surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding the distribution of this surface hoar in the region but it was reported in a couple locations in the Monashees west of Revelstoke. The mid-November crust is now typically down 1-1.5m in the snowpack. Test results on this layer have been highly variable ranging from sudden and easy to unreactive. While there has not been much avalanche activity on this layer yet, it has many professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the current period of cold weather. Below the crust the snowpack is generally well settled and is reported to be moist at lower elevations. The snowpack depth tapers off substantially below around 1700m elevation and many early season hazards are still a concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last weekend's storm system brought 40-60cm of new snow to the southern part of the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. The wind during the storm and more recent northerly wind has redistributed the storm snow forming wind slabs in alpine and tree line lees. The mid-November crust appears to typically be down 1-1.5m in the south of the region, and around 80cm down in the north of the region. Test results on this layer suggest the crust is generally well bonded in the Cariboos region. However, test results from the North Columbia region suggest there may be an isolated weakness associated with this layer and it has professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the current cold weather.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25 cm of low density snow from last weekend sits above a thin drizzle crust in many places and is gradually settling. Northerly winds have redistributed the snow, forming stubborn wind slabs in exposed areas. New surface hoar up to 10 mm in size has been reported growing on the surface, and will continue to develop during this fair weather period. Watch for slopes that develop surface hoar or surface facets, because new snow will bond poorly when the next storm arrives. A thick melt-freeze crust from mid-November is buried 40-80 cm deep. Facets have recently been reported above this crust and may continue to develop with the cold temperatures. Facet growth will be most pronounce in shallow alpine start zones, creating the potential for large avalanches in the future. Snowpack depths are 130-160 cm at treeline elevations.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">40-60 cm of fresh snow from Monday's storm is slowly settling into a touchy storm slab. Storm slabs will be thicker and more reactive on wind loaded features. The new snow sits above a supportive melt-freeze crust, providing a bed surface for avalanches to run on. Cold temperatures are making it take longer than usual for the new snow to gain strength. It also prevents the new snow from bonding with the crust. Below the crust, the snowpack is settled and strong. Total snowpack depths are 160-200 cm at treeline. Isolated pockets are deep enough for avalanches below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The recent storm snow is settling slowly due to the cold temperatures. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in the alpine in some areas, and others report little or no wind resulting in loose unconsolidated snow. The depth of the mid-november crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a wide array of results from moderate sudden planar to hard resistant planar, and in some cases no result. Watch for near surface facets developing in the upper snowpack that may develop a poor bonding layer before the next storm. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below that may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snow has formed wind slabs on northerly aspects in the alpine that are reactive to light additional loads like a single skier/rider. The cold temperatures and clear skies are developing near surface facets, and may be preserving surface hoar that was buried on the weekend. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-november crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. Snowpack and crust depths increase as you move west into the Selkirks. It sounds like there is a bit less snow on the ground in the south of the region, but we have not had many observations at this time. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and below that may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future. Please let us know what you find by posting to the MIN (Mountain Information Network).</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm slabs and wind slabs have formed on open leeward slopes and behind terrain features in exposed areas. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. There is sufficient snow on the ground for avalanches at treeline and alpine elevations, and possibly in some below treeline locations. Reports suggest typical treeline snow depths are around 110-150 cm, but a report from the east side of region indicated a much lower snow depth of around 90 cm. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of recent storm snow has buried old snow surfaces including surface hoar and old, stiff wind slabs. The cold temperatures will have promoted surface faceting, which probably means the top layer of snow is soft in most places. Treeline snow depths around Elkford are only around 60 cm. I suspect they are slightly higher in places like the Flathead, but generally conditions are lean. Threshold snow depths for avalanches have been exceeded in the alpine and at treeline, but not below treeline. In shallow areas, the snowpack is most likely facetted (sugary) throughout, and any crusts have probably broken down already. In deeper areas, you can probably find the mid-November crust buried under half a metre or so of snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong outlflow winds for the past few days have created touchy wind slabs on west and south aspects. Wind slabs will continue to grow with the incoming storm. Alpine terrain has been dramatically affected by wind over the past week, but low density powder remains in sheltered areas. Surface snow has been faceting and softening with the cold air temperatures, and will likely create a weak interface with the incoming storm snow. The mid-pack is generally strong, with a widespread mid-November crust buried 70-100 cm at treeline and anywhere from 30-200 cm in alpine terrain. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong outflow winds have redistributed loose snow at higher elevations, forming touchy wind slabs in the lee of ridgetops. Surface snow has begun to facet and soften with the cold air temperatures, and will likely create a weak interface when the next storm arrives. Storm snow from last weekend remains unconsolidated. A 20 cm deep buried surface hoar layer has been reported in the Duffey area. This layer was reactive to skier triggering on the weekend, but there is no recent information on the distribution or reactivity of this layer. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">A widespread crust can be found 70-100 cm deep throughout the region. Although this layer has been unreactive in recent snowpack tests, cold temperatures will promote facet growth around the crust and make it possible to trigger this layer in shallow wind-affected starts zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The storm from last weekend brought 30-80 cm of cold powder. This new snow has been blown around by the wind - first by southwesterly winds during the storm, then by northerly winds with the onset of arctic air, and now by easterly outflow winds. As a result, expect wind slabs in a wide variety of locations. Unless you're really certain about the recent local wind history, the safest bet is to assume wind slabs could be present on all aspects in exposed alpine, treeline, and even some below treeline locations. The recent snow buried a surface hoar layer, which now lies 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer was reactive during and after the storm and is likely still reactive to human triggers. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets (sugary snow) forming above the crust; however, that interface hasn't become a concern as of yet. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent winds have blown from many directions, most recently from the east. As a result, expect wind slabs to exist on a wide variety of exposed slopes. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now sits beneath 40-50 cm of settling snow. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets (sugary snow) above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In most areas there is 30-50 cm of recent storm snow that has stayed unconsolidated except where it has been transported into wind slabs. The surface snow has been facetting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in isolated areas. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above above a crust that was buried in mid-november. This crust may be buried less than a metre to close to 2 metres deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden and planar to no result. Professionals continue to monitor this crust and are watching for facet development above and below that may increase reactivity. The basal layers of the snowpack continue to be reported to be moist in some of the deeper snowpack areas of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last weekend's storm system brought 40-60cm of new snow to the southern part of the region with strong southwest wind in the alpine. The wind during the storm and more recent northerly wind has redistributed the storm snow forming wind slabs in alpine and tree line lees. The mid-November crust appears to typically be down 1-1.5m in the south of the region, and around 80cm down in the north of the region. Test results on this layer suggest the crust is generally well bonded in the Cariboos region. However, test results from the North Columbia region suggest there may be an isolated weakness associated with this layer and it has professionals concerned. It will be important to track how this layer evolves, especially with the current cold weather.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Northerly winds continue to redistributed loose snow, forming stubborn wind slabs in exposed alpine areas. New surface hoar up to 15 mm in size has been reported growing on the surface, and will continue to develop during this fair weather period. The top 25 cm of snow remains low density thanks to cold temperatures, and sits above a thin rain crust in parts of the region. The lower snowpack has been reported to be well settled. A widespread crust that was buried in November can be found 40-80 cm deep. Cold temperatures have promoted facet growth around the crust, which could make the layer reactive in shallow start zones. Snowpack depths are 130-160 cm at treeline elevations.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Surface hoar is definetly growing on all aspects and in all elevations right now.  We still have concerns about windslabs along ridgelines and in immediate lees on all aspects in alpine terrain.  These slabs do not extend far down slope but they should be expected at higher elevations.  The nov 24th interface as well as the Nov 12th interface are still producing mixed results.  Be sure to dig down and evaluate this interface before you commit to a feature. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A heavy pulse of new snow is expected for Friday and Saturday, although the weather forecast models don't agree on how much. By Friday afternoon there may be 20-30 cm of new snow on top of 30-50 cm of settling snow from last Monday. Northeast winds have likely formed thin wind slabs in exposed alpine terrain. A sun crust has been reported on the surface of steep southerly aspects, which may bond poorly with the new snow. A rain crust exists below Monday's storm slab, and recent reports suggest the storm snow may still be poorly bonded to the crust on shady north aspects. Below the crust, the snowpack is settled and strong. Total snowpack depths are 160-200 cm at treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The recent storm snow is settling slowly due to the cold temperatures. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in the alpine in some areas, and others report little or no wind resulting in loose unconsolidated snow. The depth of the mid-november crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a wide array of results from moderate sudden planar to hard resistant planar, and in some cases no result. Watch for near surface facets developing in the upper snowpack that may develop a poor bonding layer before the next storm. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below that may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snow has formed wind slabs on northerly aspects in the alpine that are reactive to light additional loads like a single skier/rider. The cold temperatures and clear skies are developing near surface facets, and may be preserving surface hoar that was buried on the weekend. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-november crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. Snowpack and crust depths increase as you move west into the Selkirks. It sounds like there is a bit less snow on the ground in the south of the region, but we have not had many observations at this time. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and below that may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future. Please let us know what you find by posting to the MIN (Mountain Information Network).</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snow that fell last weekend has seen little wind effect in many areas throughout the region. If winds pick up this weekend, freshly formed wind slabs will be the primary concern. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. There is sufficient snow on the ground for avalanches at treeline and alpine elevations, and possibly in some below treeline locations. Reports suggest typical treeline snow depths are around 110-150 cm, but a report from the east side of region indicated a much lower snow depth of around 90 cm. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of recent storm snow has buried old snow surfaces including surface hoar and old, stiff wind slabs. The cold temperatures will have promoted surface faceting, which probably means the top layer of snow is soft in most places. Treeline snow depths around Elkford are only around 60 cm. I suspect they are slightly higher in places like the Flathead, but generally conditions are lean. Threshold snow depths for avalanches have been exceeded in the alpine and at treeline, but not below treeline. In shallow areas, the snowpack is most likely facetted (sugary) throughout, and any crusts have probably broken down already. In deeper areas, you can probably find the mid-November crust buried under half a metre or so of snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">High elevations were blasted with strong northeast outflow winds this week and are now experiencing moderate south winds. The result is extensive wind scouring and wind slab formation in exposed terrain. Intermittent flurries the next few days will deposit a total of 20-30 cm low density snow on a variable surface consisting of wind slabs, small isolated pockets of surface hoar, and surface facets. Expect the new snow to bond poorly with this interface. The mid-pack is generally strong, with a widespread mid-November crust buried 70-100 cm at treeline and anywhere from 30-200 cm in alpine terrain. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The incoming storm is bringing light amounts of new snow with moderate winds. These conditions will continue to form wind slabs in exposed terrain. Southern parts of the region could see larger accumulations. The cold arctic air has left a complex surface for this new snow to fall onto. Changing wind directions over the past week have formed wind slabs on various aspects in exposed terrain. Small 2-3 mm surface hoar has been reported throughout the region in sheltered terrain and sits above loose faceted snow. This structure will likely become weak when loaded by new snow or wind. In the Duffey area, another small surface hoar layer can be found 20 cm deep and may become reactive with new loading. The mid-pack is generally well settled down to a widespread crust near the bottom of the snowpack. Recent reports suggest facets have formed above the crust. Although tests are indicating the layer is unreactive, it may be possible to trigger this layer in shallow rocky start zones. Total snowpack depths are 80-130 cm at treeline, and significantly less below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and up to 12 mm surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Strong to extreme easterly winds over the past few days have created wind slabs on aspects you may not expect them. Wind slabs could be present on all aspects in exposed alpine, treeline, and even some below treeline locations. A layer of surface hoar which was buried around November 22nd is down 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer is likely still reactive to human triggers. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets (sugary snow) forming above the crust; however, that interface has not become a concern as of yet. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Recent winds have blown from many directions, most recently from the east. As a result, expect wind slabs to exist on a wide variety of exposed slopes. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now sits beneath 40-50 cm of settling snow. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets (sugary snow) above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In most areas there is 30-50 cm of recent storm snow that has stayed unconsolidated except where it has been transported into wind slabs. The surface snow has been facetting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in isolated areas. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above above a crust that was buried in mid-november. This crust may be buried less than a metre to close to 2 metres deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden and planar to no result. Professionals continue to monitor this crust and are watching for facet development above and below that may increase reactivity. The basal layers of the snowpack continue to be reported to be moist in some of the deeper snowpack areas of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Surface snow has been facetting during this period of cold weather, and last weeks storm snow has been settling slowly. Areas sheltered from the wind may be developing a new surface hoar layer. The mid-november crust is buried down 100-180 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Professionals continue to monitor the crust for facet develop that may provide a weak layer above a hard sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Isolated flurries with moderate winds are burying cold and loose surface snow. Surface hoar growing up to 15 mm in size was reported this week, and widespread faceting has occurred in the top 25 cm of low density snow. Expect new snow to bond poorly with this interface, especially in deeper wind-loaded pockets. The lower snowpack is settled and strong. A widespread crust that was buried in November can be found 50-100 cm deep. Cold temperatures have promoted facet growth around the crust, which could possibly make the layer reactive in shallow rocky start zones. Snowpack depths are 130-160 cm at treeline, and significantly less below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Not a lot of change in the snowpack as a whole. We are seeing some surface hoar start to develop. The northern region has 10-15mm, while the southern areas have up to 5mm. The treeline snowpack continues to lose strength due to the cold temps. Limited settlement has kept the Nov 12th crust down 50-70cm at treeline elevations. Luckily the winds have also been light keeping snow transport and slab development minimal. Snow depth at Burstall Pass is 110m.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain, but expect 20-40 cm of fresh snow by Saturday afternoon. The new snow is falling on a variable surface that includes settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep solar aspects. Overall the incoming snow will likely bond poorly to this interface. The thickest and most touchy storm slabs can be expected on north-facing wind-loaded features. A rain crust exists 30-50 cm deep, and recent reports suggest the storm snow may still be poorly bonded to the crust on shady north aspects. Below the crust, the snowpack is settled and strong. Total snowpack depths are 160-200 cm at treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The recent storm snow is settling slowly due to the cold temperatures. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in the alpine in some areas, and others report little or no wind resulting in loose unconsolidated snow. The depth of the mid-november crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a wide array of results from moderate sudden planar to hard resistant planar, and in some cases no result. Watch for near surface facets developing in the upper snowpack that may develop a poor bonding layer before the next storm. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below that may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snow has formed wind slabs on northerly aspects in the alpine that are reactive to light additional loads like a single skier/rider. The cold temperatures and clear skies are developing near surface facets, and may be preserving surface hoar that was buried on the weekend. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-november crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. Snowpack and crust depths increase as you move west into the Selkirks. It sounds like there is a bit less snow on the ground in the south of the region, but we have not had many observations at this time. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and below that may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future. Please let us know what you find by posting to the MIN (Mountain Information Network).</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snow that fell last weekend has seen little wind effect in many areas throughout the region. If winds pick up this weekend, freshly formed thin wind slabs will be the primary concern. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. There is sufficient snow on the ground for avalanches at treeline and alpine elevations, and possibly in some below treeline locations. Reports suggest typical treeline snow depths are around 110-150 cm, but a report from the east side of region indicated a much lower snow depth of around 90 cm. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The cold temperatures will have promoted surface faceting, which probably means the top layer of snow is soft in most places. Treeline snow depths around Elkford are only around 60 cm. I suspect they are slightly higher in places like the Flathead, but generally conditions are lean. Threshold snow depths for avalanches have been exceeded in the alpine and at treeline, but not below treeline. In shallow areas, the snowpack is most likely facetted (sugary) throughout, and any crusts have probably broken down already. In deeper areas, you can probably find the mid-November crust buried under half a metre or so of snow. Early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">High elevations were blasted with strong northeast outflow winds at the end of last week and are now experiencing moderate south winds and light snowfall. The result is extensive wind scouring and wind slab formation in exposed terrain. The new snowfall sits over a variable surface consisting of wind slabs, small isolated pockets of surface hoar, and surface facets. Expect the new snow to bond poorly with this interface. The mid-pack is generally strong, with a widespread mid-November crust buried 70-100 cm at treeline and anywhere from 30-200 cm in alpine terrain. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The storm is bringing light amounts of new snow with moderate winds. These conditions will continue to form wind slabs in exposed terrain throughout the region. Southern parts of the region could see larger accumulations and storm slab formation is possible by the end of the storm on Sunday. The cold arctic air has left a complex surface for this new snow to fall onto. Changing wind directions over the past week have formed wind slabs on various aspects in exposed terrain. Small 2-3mm surface hoar has been reported throughout the region in sheltered terrain and sits above loose faceted snow. This structure will likely become weak when loaded by new snow or wind. In the Duffey area, another small surface hoar layer can be found 20cm deep and may become reactive with new loading. The mid-pack is generally well settled down to a widespread crust near the bottom of the snowpack. Recent reports suggest facets have formed above the crust. Although tests are indicating the layer is unreactive, it may be possible to trigger this layer in shallow rocky start zones. Total snowpack depths are 80-130cm at treeline, and significantly less below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and up to 12 mm surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Strong to extreme easterly winds over the past few days have created wind slabs on aspects you may not expect them. Wind slabs could be present on all aspects in exposed alpine, treeline, and even some below treeline locations. A layer of surface hoar which was buried around November 22nd is down 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer is likely still reactive to human triggers. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets (sugary snow) forming above the crust; however, that interface has not become a concern as of yet. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Recent winds have blown from many directions, most recently from the east. As a result, expect wind slabs to exist on a wide variety of exposed slopes. A layer of surface hoar was reported around Hudson Bay Mountain last week, which now sits beneath 40-50 cm of settling snow. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep, and recent snowpack tests produced sudden results on facets (sugary snow) above this crust. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In most areas there is 30-50 cm of recent storm snow that has stayed unconsolidated except where it has been transported into wind slabs. The surface snow has been facetting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in isolated areas. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above above a crust that was buried in mid-november. This crust may be buried less than a metre to close to 2 metres deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden and planar to no result. Professionals continue to monitor this crust and are watching for facet development above and below that may increase reactivity. The basal layers of the snowpack continue to be reported to be moist in some of the deeper snowpack areas of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Surface snow has been facetting during this period of cold weather, and last weeks storm snow has been settling slowly. Areas sheltered from the wind may be developing a new surface hoar layer. The mid-november crust is buried down 100-180 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Professionals continue to monitor the crust for facet develop that may provide a weak layer above a hard sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light snowfall with moderate winds are burying cold and loose surface snow. Surface hoar growing up to 15mm in size was reported this week, and widespread faceting has occurred in the top 25cm of low density snow. Expect new snow to bond poorly with this interface, especially in deeper wind-loaded pockets. The lower snowpack is settled and strong. A widespread crust that was buried in November can be found 50-100cm deep. Cold temperatures have promoted facet growth around the crust, which could possibly make the layer reactive in shallow rocky start zones. Snowpack depths are 130-160cm at treeline, and significantly less below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Trace to 3cm of new snow in past 24hrs has added to an average of 15cm of low density snow overlying buried wind slabs in the Alpine. These slabs are 5 to 15cm thick and sit on a pronounced layer of weak facets just above the Nov 12th crust layer which is now buried between 40 and 60cm. Snowpack stability tests are giving widely variable results below these buried wind slabs.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">As of Saturday afternoon parts of the region have seen 40-60cm of new snowfall, with a lot more expected by Sunday afternoon. The new snow is falling on a variable surface that includes settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep solar aspects. Overall the incoming snow will likely bond poorly to this interface. The thickest and most touchy storm slabs can be expected on north-facing wind-loaded features. An old rain crust was down 30-50 cm prior to the storm, and reports had suggested that the snow above it was poorly bonded to the crust on some shady north aspects. Below the crust, the snowpack is settled and strong. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50cm of recent low density storm snow is settling slowly due to the cold temperatures. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in the alpine in some areas, while other operations report little or no wind resulting in loose unconsolidated snow. The depth of the mid-november crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a wide array of results from moderate sudden planar to hard resistant planar, and in some cases no result. Watch for near surface facets developing in the upper snowpack that may develop a poor bonding layer before the next storm. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below that may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snow has formed wind slabs on northerly aspects in the alpine that are reactive to light additional loads like a single skier/rider. The cold temperatures and clear skies are developing near surface facets, and may be preserving surface hoar that was buried on the weekend. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-november crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. Snowpack and crust depths increase as you move west toward the Selkirks. It sounds like there is a bit less snow on the ground in the south of the region, but we have not had many observations at this time. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and below that may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future. Please let us know what you find by posting to the MIN (Mountain Information Network).</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Much of the region received 10-15 cm of new snow with locally higher amounts (30-40 cm) around Fernie. So far this new snow has fallen with no wind and made for great skiing. If winds increase, expect touchy soft slabs to form in wind affected terrain. This new snow is sitting on top of a mixture of surface hoar and weak surface facets. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. There is sufficient snow on the ground for avalanches at treeline and alpine elevations, and possibly in some below treeline locations. Reports suggest typical treeline snow depths are around 110-150 cm, but a report from the east side of region indicated a much lower snow depth of around 90 cm. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">If the winds increase to moderate Sunday night, there may be fresh wind slabs in lee features below ridge tops in the alpine. The cold temperatures will have promoted surface faceting, which probably means the top layer of snow is soft in sheltered areas. Treeline snow depths around Elkford are only around 60 cm. I suspect they are slightly higher in places like the Flathead, but generally conditions are lean. Threshold snow depths for avalanches have been exceeded in the alpine and at treeline, but not below treeline. In shallow areas, the snowpack is most likely facetted (sugary) throughout, and any crusts have probably broken down already. In deeper areas, you can probably find the mid-November crust buried under half a metre or so of snow. Early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20cm of new low density snow has buried the heavily wind affected surfaces from the strong outflow winds last week. The old surface is highly variable and may include hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. Expect the new snow to be bonding poorly with this interface. The cold temperatures appear to be preserving the old wind slabs from the end of last week and they still may be reactive to human triggering in isolated areas. In high elevation terrain, moderate southwest winds over the weekend may have redistributed some of the new storm snow and soft slabs may exist in immediate leeward features. The widespread mid-November crust typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the south of the region, 40-60cm of new low density snow has buried the heavily wind affected surfaces from the strong outflow winds last week. The old surface is highly variable and may include hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. Storm slabs are possible in the south of the region and it is expected that the new snow is bonding poorly to the old interface. The cold temperatures appear to be preserving the old wind slabs from the end of last week and they still may be reactive to human triggering in isolated areas throughout the region. In high elevation terrain in the north of region, 15-25cm of new snow and moderate south winds over the weekend may have formed soft wind slabs in immediate leeward features. The widespread mid-November crust typically down over 1m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and up to 12 mm surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Strong to extreme easterly winds over the past few days have created wind slabs on aspects you may not expect them. Wind slabs could be present on all aspects in exposed alpine, treeline, and even some below treeline locations. A layer of surface hoar which was buried around November 22nd is down 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer is likely still reactive to human triggers. A thick rain crust exists 20-30 cm below the surface hoar layer, with isolated reports of weak facets (sugary snow) forming above the crust; however, that interface has not become a concern as of yet. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Recent winds have blown from many directions, most recently from the east. As a result, expect wind slabs to exist on a wide variety of exposed slopes. According to reports near Smithers, there is a layer of surface hoar down 40-50 cm. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In most areas there is 30-50 cm of recent low density storm snow that has stayed unconsolidated except where it has been transported into wind slabs. The surface snow has been facetting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in isolated areas. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above above a crust that was buried in mid-november. This crust may be buried less than a metre to close to 2 metres deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden and planar to no result. Professionals continue to monitor this crust and are watching for facet development above and below that may increase reactivity. The basal layers of the snowpack continue to be reported to be moist in some of the deeper snowpack areas of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Continued cold temperatures are promoting surface faceting at all elevations. Surfaces are reported to be wind-affected in exposed areas, and wind slabs exist in lee terrain at treeline and in the alpine. Areas sheltered from the wind may be developing a new surface hoar layer. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-november crust is buried down 100-180 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Professionals continue to monitor the crust for facet develop that may provide a weak layer above a hard sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 15-25cm of new snow over the weekend has buried the surface hoar layer that formed last week. The surface hoar appears to have typically been 3-10mm in size. Widespread faceting of the old snow surface was also reported prior to the snowfall. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to the old interface but is reported to be low density and appears to only be a concern in wind loaded features at the moment. If winds persist on Monday, additional wind transport and wind slab formation is possible. The lower snowpack is settled and strong. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show the layer is unreactive but cold temperatures have promoted facet growth around the crust and this layer could become a problem in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Trace to 1cm of new snow in past 24hrs with very little wind effect in the upper 20cm of surface snow. Buried wind slabs are found on all aspects in the Alpine and just down into Treeline elevations, but they are variable in nature. These slabs are 5 to 20cm thick and sit on a pronounced layer of weak facets just above the Nov 12th crust layer which is now buried between 40 and 60cm. Recent snowpack stability tests are giving widely variable results below these buried wind slabs.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Highly variable snowfall amounts were reported across the region. In the deepest areas in the south of the region, upwards of 1m of new storm snow accumulated over the weekend. Closer to Squamish, new snowfall amounts are expected to be around 30cm. The new snow sits on an old surface that was highly variable and may include well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep solar aspects. The new snow will likely bond poorly to this interface and due to the cold temperature, may take longer than normal to stabilize. The thickest and most touchy storm slabs can be expected in wind-loaded terrain features. An old rain crust was down 30-50 cm prior to the storm, and reports had suggested that the snow above it was poorly bonded to the crust on some shady north aspects. Below the crust, the snowpack is well settled and strong. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50cm of recent low density storm snow is settling slowly due to the cold temperatures. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in the alpine in some areas, while other operations report little or no wind resulting in loose unconsolidated snow. The depth of the mid-november crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a wide array of results from moderate sudden planar to hard resistant planar, and in some cases no result. Watch for near surface facets developing in the upper snowpack and a recently buried layer of surface hoar that may develop a poor bonding layer before the next storm. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below that may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snow has formed wind slabs on northerly aspects in the alpine that are reactive to light additional loads like a single skier/rider. The cold temperatures and clear skies are developing near surface facets, and may be preserving surface hoar that was buried on the weekend. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-november crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. Snowpack and crust depths increase as you move west toward the Selkirks. It sounds like there is a bit less snow on the ground in the south of the region, but we have not had many observations at this time. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and below that may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future. Please let us know what you find by posting to the MIN (Mountain Information Network).</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Much of the region received 10-15 cm of new snow with locally higher amounts (30-45 cm) around Fernie. So far this new snow has fallen with no wind and made for great skiing. If winds increase, expect touchy soft slabs to form in wind affected terrain. This new snow is sitting on top of a mixture of surface hoar and weak surface facets which means the storm snow could become quite reactive when it settles into a slab. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. Reports suggest typical treeline snow depths are around 120-170 cm, but a report from the east side of region indicated a much lower snow depth of around 90 cm. Limited reports suggest the crust from the middle of November is down 50-80 cm and the crust from early November is down 80-110 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">If the winds increase to moderate Monday night, there may be fresh wind slabs in lee features below ridge tops in the alpine. The cold temperatures will have promoted surface faceting, which probably means the top layer of snow is soft in sheltered areas. Treeline snow depths around Elkford are only around 60 cm. I suspect they are slightly higher in places like the Flathead, but generally conditions are lean. Threshold snow depths for avalanches have been exceeded in the alpine and at treeline, but not below treeline. In shallow areas, the snowpack is most likely facetted (sugary) throughout, and any crusts have probably broken down already. In deeper areas, you can probably find the mid-November crust buried under half a metre or so of snow. Early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20cm of new low density snow has buried the heavily wind affected surfaces from the strong outflow winds last week. The old surface is highly variable and may include hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. Expect the new snow to be bonding poorly with this interface. The cold temperatures appear to be preserving the old wind slabs from the end of last week and they still may be reactive to human triggering in isolated areas. In high elevation terrain, moderate southwest winds over the weekend may have redistributed some of the new storm snow and soft slabs may exist in immediate leeward features. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the south of the region, 40-60cm of new low density snow has buried the heavily wind affected surfaces from the strong outflow winds last week. The old surface is highly variable and may include hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. Wind slabs that have formed in response to southwest winds during the storm, or subsequent northerly winds are likely to be touchiest in the south of the region where the most snow fell. The widespread mid-November crust typically down over 1m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and up to 12 mm surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Strong easterly winds over the past week have created wind slabs on aspects you may not expect them. Wind slabs could be present on all aspects in open areas at treeline and above. A layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November is down 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer may be reactive to human triggers in isolated locations or could be triggered by a smaller wind slab that 'steps-down' to this layer. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Recent winds have blown from many directions, most recently from the east. As a result, expect wind slabs to exist on a wide variety of exposed slopes. According to reports near Smithers, there is a layer of surface hoar down 40-50 cm. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In most areas there is 30-50 cm of recent low density storm snow that has stayed unconsolidated except where it has been transported into wind slabs. The surface snow has been facetting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in isolated areas. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above above a crust that was buried in mid-november. This crust may be buried less than a metre to close to 2 metres deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden to no result. Professionals continue to monitor this crust and are watching for facet development above and below that may increase reactivity. The basal layers of the snowpack continue to be reported to be moist in some of the deeper snowpack areas of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Continued cold temperatures are promoting surface faceting at all elevations. Surfaces are reported to be wind-affected in exposed areas, and wind slabs exist in lee terrain at treeline and in the alpine. Areas sheltered from the wind may be developing a new surface hoar layer. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-november crust is buried down 100-180 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Professionals continue to monitor the crust for facet development that may provide a weak layer above a hard sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 15-25cm of new snow over the weekend has buried the surface hoar layer that formed last week. The surface hoar appears to have typically been 3-10mm in size. Widespread faceting of the old snow surface was also reported prior to the snowfall. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to the old interface but is reported to be low density and appears to only be a concern in wind loaded features at the moment. If winds increase, additional wind transport and wind slab formation is likely. The lower snowpack is settled and strong. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show the layer is unreactive but cold temperatures have promoted facet growth around the crust and this layer could become a problem in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">2cm of new snow overnight. Above 2500m fresh wind slabs up to 15cm thick have developed on all aspects in the Alpine. Some minor cracking was observed in wind loaded areas. In addition, a buried wind slab is still found in Alpine areas on all aspects sitting on a layer of facets over the Nov 12 crust down 40 to 60cm. These slabs are highly variable in character, thickness and reactivity.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Highly variable snowfall amounts were reported across the region. In the deepest areas in the south of the region, upwards of 1 m of new storm snow accumulated over the weekend; closer to Squamish, it was more like 30 cm. The new snow sits on an old surface that was highly variable and may include well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep solar aspects. The nature of the bond between the new snow and old is critical right now. Colder than usual temperatures mean this interface will take longer than normal to stabilize. There may be isolated pockets of buried surface hoar that could act as a good sliding layer in open sheltered areas. Wind slabs can be expected behind exposed, wind-loaded terrain features. An old rain crust is reported to be buried 110-120 cm below the surface in the North Shore mountains. This layer is still failing on snowpack tests, but is likely difficult to trigger in most places now. Below the crust, the snowpack is well settled and strong. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50cm of recent low density storm snow is settling slowly due to the cold temperatures. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in the alpine. Watch for facets developing in the upper snowpack and a recently buried layer of surface hoar down 30-40cm that may develop a poor bonding layer. The depth of the mid-november crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a variety of results from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in some cases no result. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below. This may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent wind has formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in the alpine. The cold temperatures and clear skies are developing facets near the surface. There may be a layer of surface hoar buried 20-40cm deep in sheltered areas. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-november crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. Snowpack and crust depths increase as you move west toward the Selkirk Range. It sounds like there is a bit less snow on the ground in the south of the region, but we have not had many observations at this time. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and below. This may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future. Please let us know what you find by posting to the MIN (Mountain Information Network).</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Much of the region received 10-15 cm of new snow with locally higher amounts (30-45 cm) around Fernie on Sunday. In many areas this new snow has seen little wind effect and made for great skiing. If winds increase, expect fresh wind slabs to form in lee features below ridgetops. This new snow is sitting on top of a mixture of surface hoar and weak surface facets which means the storm snow could become reactive when it settles into a slab. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. Reports suggest typical treeline snow depths are around 120-170 cm, but a report from the east side of region indicated a much lower snow depth of around 90 cm. Limited reports suggest the snow is well bonded to the crusts buried in mid and early November which are down 50-80 cm and 80-110 cm respectively.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> Wind slabs may exist in isolated lee features below ridgetops but are not expected to be widespread due to light wind speeds. The cold temperatures will have promoted surface faceting, which probably means the top layer of snow is soft in sheltered areas. Treeline snow depths around Elkford are only around 60 cm. I suspect they are slightly higher in places like the Flathead, but generally conditions are lean. Threshold snow depths for avalanches have been exceeded in the alpine and at treeline, but not below treeline. In shallow areas, the snowpack is most likely facetted (sugary) throughout, and any crusts have probably broken down already. In deeper areas, you can probably find the mid-November crust buried under half a metre or so of snow. Below treeline early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20cm of low density snow recently buried the previous variable snow surface, which includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. The cold temperatures appear to be preserving the old (now buried) wind slabs from the end of last week and they still may be reactive to human triggering in isolated areas. In high elevation terrain, moderate southwest winds over the weekend may have redistributed some of the new storm snow and soft slabs may exist in immediate leeward features. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-70 cm of low density snow recently buried the previous variable snow surface, including hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. Wind slabs that have formed in response to southwest winds during the storm, or subsequent northerly winds, are likely to be touchiest in the south of the region where the most snow fell. Weaknesses have also been found within the recent storm snow with reports of moderate snowpack test results on preserved stellars down 48cm in the Coquihalla Pass area. The widespread mid-November crust typically down around a metre. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard slabs in exposed areas and up to 12 mm surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Strong easterly winds over the past week have created wind slabs on aspects you may not expect them. Wind slabs could be present on all aspects in open areas at treeline and above. A layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November is down 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer may be reactive to human triggers in isolated locations or could be triggered by a smaller slab that 'steps-down' to this layer. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Recent winds have blown from many directions, most recently from the east. As a result, wind slabs may exist on a wide variety aspects. According to reports near Smithers, there is a layer of surface hoar down 40-50 cm, though no recent activity has been reported on this layer. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In most areas there is 30-50 cm of recent low density storm snow that has stayed unconsolidated except where it has been transported into wind slabs. The surface snow has been facetting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in isolated areas. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above above a crust that was buried in mid-november. This crust may be buried less than a metre to close to 2 metres deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden to no result. Professionals continue to monitor this crust and are watching for facet development above and below that may increase reactivity. The basal layers of the snowpack continue to be reported to be moist in some of the deeper snowpack areas of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Continued cold temperatures are promoting surface faceting at all elevations. Surfaces are reported to be wind-affected in exposed areas well into treeline. Wind slabs exist in lee terrain at treeline and in the alpine. Areas sheltered from the wind may be developing a new surface hoar layer. The mid-november crust is buried down 100-180 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Professionals continue to monitor the crust for facet development that may provide a weak layer above a hard sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 15-25cm of fresh snow recently buried the weak surface hoar and surface facets that formed last week. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to the old interface on it has settled into a cohesive slab, but is reported to be low density and appears to only be a concern in wind loaded features at the moment. The lower snowpack is settled and strong. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show the layer is unreactive but cold temperatures have promoted facet growth around the crust and this layer could become a problem in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Two words: Complex and Variable!! Below treeline the snowpack is shallow and weak. Treeline is where the whole thing gets interesting. The Nov 12th crust is down 60cm and is starting to break down with a fine layer of facets immediately above and below. On top of these new facets, there is a 15cm thick layer of facets that have been growing throughout the cold snap. This thick layer was known as the Nov 24th persistent layer-despite being 15cm thick. To make it more complex, the recent winds have now created a windslab that is on the surface (at treeline). Its thought that the Nov 24th layer will instantly step down to the crust surface if initiated.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Now for the alpine...take the treeline story and add yet another windslab to the surface. Working surface down, that leaves us with a surface windslab, followed by a buried windslab, followed by the 15cm thick facet layer...then the Nov 12 crust. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Better read that a few times...</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Anywhere from 30 cm (near Squamish) to 75 cm (North Shore) of fresh snow recently buried the old variable snow surface that includes well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep southerly aspects. Recent easy to moderate sudden planar snowpack tests suggest poor bonds within and under the recent storm snow. Colder than usual temperatures and the potential for buried surface hoar means these weaknesses will take longer than normal to stabilize. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150 cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is still failing on snowpack tests, but is likely difficult to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent low density storm snow has been facetting due to the cold temperatures. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in the alpine. Watch for a recently buried layer of surface hoar down 30-40cm that may develop a poor bonding layer. The depth of the mid-november crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a variety of results from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in some cases no result. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below. This may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent wind has formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in the alpine. The cold temperatures and clear skies are developing facets near the surface. There may be a layer of surface hoar buried 20-40cm deep in sheltered areas. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-november crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. Snowpack and crust depths increase as you move west toward the Selkirk Range. It sounds like there is a bit less snow on the ground in the south of the region, but we have not had many observations at this time. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and below. This may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future. Please let us know what you find by posting to the MIN (Mountain Information Network).</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of low density storm snow from the weekend is being redistributed into soft slabs in wind exposed terrain. The new snow is sitting on top of a mixture of surface hoar and weak surface facets which means the storm snow could become reactive when it settles into a slab. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. Reports suggest typical treeline snow depths are around 120-170 cm, but a report from the east side of region indicated a much lower snow depth of around 90 cm. Limited reports suggest the snow is well bonded to the crusts buried in mid and early November which are down 50-80 cm and 80-110 cm, respectively.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Wind slabs may exist in isolated lee features below ridgetops but are not expected to be widespread due to relatively light wind speeds thus far. The cold temperatures have promoted surface faceting, which probably means the top layer of snow is soft in sheltered areas. Treeline snow depths around Elkford are only around 60 cm. In shallow areas, the snowpack is most likely facetted (sugary) throughout, and any crusts have probably broken down already. In deeper areas, you can probably find the mid-November crust buried down around 50 cm. Below treeline, early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20cm of low density snow recently buried the previous variable snow surface, which includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. The cold temperatures appear to be preserving the old (now buried) wind slabs from the end of last week and they still may be reactive to human triggering in isolated areas. Recent snowpack tests near Whistler gave moderate, albeit resistant, results in faceted snow under the old hard wind slab. Moderate southwest winds over the weekend and more recent northerly winds have formed soft wind slabs in immediate leeward features. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-70 cm of low density snow recently buried the previous variable snow surface, including hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. Wind slabs that have formed in response to southwest winds during the storm, or subsequent northerly winds, are sensitive to light triggers with recent reports of easy hand shears and cracking around skis. In the Duffey Lake area, recent snowpack tests gave moderate sudden planar results down 36 cm on buried surface hoar. Weaknesses have also been found within the recent storm snow with reports of moderate snowpack test results on preserved stellars down 48cm in the Coquihalla Pass area. The widespread mid-November crust typically down around a metre. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas. Faceting of the upper snowpack and surface hoar up to 12 mm has in reported in sheltered areas. Strong easterly winds over the past week have created wind slabs on aspects you may not expect them. Wind slabs could be present on all aspects in open areas at treeline and above. A layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November is down 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer may be reactive to human triggers in isolated locations or could be triggered by a smaller avalanche that steps down to this layer. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Recent winds have blown from many directions, most recently from the east. As a result, wind slabs may exist on a wide variety aspects. According to reports near Smithers, there is a layer of surface hoar down 40-50 cm, though no recent activity has been reported on this layer. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In most areas recent low density storm snow has stayed unconsolidated except where it has been transported into wind slabs. The surface snow has been facetting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in isolated areas. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above above a crust that was buried in mid-november. This crust may be buried less than a metre to close to two metres deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden to no result. Professionals continue to monitor this layer and are watching for facet development above and below that may increase reactivity. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Continued cold temperatures are promoting surface faceting at all elevations. Surfaces are reported to be wind-affected in exposed areas well into treeline. Wind slabs exist in lee terrain at treeline and in the alpine. Areas sheltered from the wind may be developing a new surface hoar layer. The mid-november crust is buried down 100-180 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Professionals continue to monitor the crust for facet development that may provide a weak layer above a hard sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 15-35cm of fresh snow recently buried the weak surface hoar and surface facets that formed last week. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to the old interface on it has settled into a cohesive slab, but is reported to be low density and faceted and appears to only be a concern in wind loaded features at the moment. The lower snowpack is settled and strong. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show the layer is unreactive but cold temperatures have promoted facet growth around the crust and this layer could become a problem in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Not a lot of change out there in the last 24 hours. The cold snap has continued (-32 at Burstall parking this AM) which will keep the faceting trend going strong. Below treeline has nothing in the way of avalanche concerns. Treeline still has those surface windslabs in open, wind exposed areas. The cold will eventually lower the windslab problem, but for now they are front and center as the main treeline avalanche problem. They are 10-20cm thick, and because of the rotten snow underneath propagations may be surprisingly large The Nov 12th crust is down up to 60cm and is still intact, but sugary facets are immediately above and below. One more thing to ponder...above the Nov 12th there is a healthy layer of facets. It's thought that this layer will be entrained by any avalanche that may occur in the windslabs. Food for thought when thinking of a larger piece of terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The Alpine. Same as treeline, but a thicker surface slab. Awhile back we had a buried windslab that was an issue. In the last week or so that has blended with the the surface snow to create the current windslab issue.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snow depths are: Burstall Pass 90cm, Mud Lake 35, Aster Lake 90cm</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Anywhere from 30 cm (near Squamish) to 75 cm (North Shore) of fresh snow recently buried the old variable snow surface that includes well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep southerly aspects. Recent easy to moderate sudden planar snowpack tests suggest poor bonds within and under the recent storm snow. Colder than usual temperatures and the potential for buried surface hoar means these weaknesses will take longer than normal to stabilize. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150 cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is still failing on snowpack tests, but is likely difficult to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Due to cold and clear conditions a variety of surface snow exists from faceted (sugary) crystals to surface hoar crystals up to 8 mm in size. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in isolated areas at upper elevations. Watch for a recently buried layer of surface hoar down 30-40cm that may develop a poor bonding layer. The depth of the mid-November crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a variety of results from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in some cases no result. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below. This may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent wind has formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in the alpine. The cold temperatures and clear skies are developing facets near the surface. There may be a layer of surface hoar buried 20-30cm deep in sheltered areas. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-november crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. Snowpack and crust depths increase as you move west toward the Selkirk Range. It sounds like there is a bit less snow on the ground in the south of the region, but we have not had many observations at this time. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and below. This may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of low density storm snow from the weekend is being redistributed into soft slabs in wind exposed terrain. The new snow is sitting on top of a mixture of surface hoar and weak surface facets which means the storm snow could become reactive when it settles into a slab. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. Reports suggest typical treeline snow depths are around 120-170 cm, but a report from the east side of region indicated a much lower snow depth of around 90 cm. Limited reports suggest the snow is well bonded to the crusts buried in mid and early November which are down 50-80 cm and 80-110 cm, respectively.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Wind slabs may exist in isolated lee features below ridgetops but are not expected to be widespread due to relatively light wind speeds thus far. The cold temperatures have promoted surface faceting, which probably means the top layer of snow is soft in sheltered areas. Treeline snow depths around Elkford are only around 60 cm. In shallow areas, the snowpack is most likely facetted (sugary) throughout, and any crusts have probably broken down already. In deeper areas, you can likely find the mid-November crust buried down around 50 cm. Below treeline, early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar is growing in sheltered lower elevation areas, and the upper snowpack is faceting. Around 20cm of low density snow recently buried the previous variable snow surface, which includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. The cold temperatures appear to be preserving the old (now buried) wind slabs from the end of last week and they still may be reactive to human triggering in isolated areas. Recent snowpack tests near Whistler gave hard but sudden results in faceted snow under the old hard wind slab. Moderate southwest winds over the weekend and more recent northerly winds have formed soft wind slabs in immediate leeward features. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar is growing and surface snow is faceting. 30-70 cm of low density snow recently buried the previous variable snow surface, including hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. Wind slabs that have formed in response to southwest winds during the storm, or subsequent northerly winds, are sensitive to light triggers with recent reports of easy hand shears and cracking around skis. In the Duffey Lake area, recent snowpack tests gave moderate sudden planar results down 36 cm on buried surface hoar. Weaknesses have also been found within the recent storm snow with reports of moderate snowpack test results on preserved stellars down 48cm in the Coquihalla Pass area. The widespread mid-November crust typically down around a metre. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas. Faceting of the upper snowpack and surface hoar up to 12 mm has in reported in sheltered areas. Strong easterly winds over the past week have created wind slabs on aspects you may not expect them. Wind slabs could be present on all aspects in open areas at treeline and above. A layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November is down 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer may be reactive to human triggers in isolated locations or could be triggered by a smaller avalanche that steps down to this layer. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas and surface hoar formation in sheltered areas. Recent winds have blown from many directions, most recently from the east. As a result, wind slabs may exist on a wide variety aspects. According to reports near Smithers, there is a layer of surface hoar down 40-50 cm, though no recent activity has been reported on this layer. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In most areas recent low density storm snow has stayed unconsolidated except where it has been transported into wind slabs. The surface snow has been faceting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in isolated areas. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above a crust that was buried in mid-November. This crust may be buried less than a metre to close to two metres deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden to no result. Professionals continue to monitor this layer and are watching for facet development above and below that may increase reactivity.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Continued cold temperatures are promoting surface faceting at all elevations. Surfaces are reported to be wind-affected in exposed areas well into treeline. Wind slabs exist in lee terrain at treeline and in the alpine. Areas sheltered from the wind may be developing a new surface hoar layer. The mid-November crust is buried down 100-180 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Professionals continue to monitor the crust for facet development that may provide a weak layer above a hard sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30cm of faceted powder overlies the facets and surface hoar that was buried last weekend. Variable light to moderate winds have loaded immediate leeward features with touchy wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show this persistent weakness has the propensity to propagate large avalanches if triggered, from thin rocky areas, for instance.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Forecasters went to Burstall Pass for today's snowpack assessment. Interestingly, we found a snowpack that is quite different than other areas. Below treeline is still horrendously bad skiing with only enough snow to barely cover the fallen trees and rocks. To top if off, this snow is facetted/rotten enough now to offer no cushioning when the inevitable ski tip snag sends the pilot flying. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Treeline has a deeper (90cm) snowpack that is still supportive in most areas. The Nov 12 crust is down 50-60cm and was unreactive in stability tests. As the terrain opens up, some windslabs are encountered.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The Alpine. This is where we start to have a winter snowpack. The depth increases significantly and the windslab problems are amplified. The slabs are more prevalent in terms of depth and distribution, but they seem to be more facetted and less of a concern than the more southern forecast areas. The Nov 12 crust starts to disappear at about 2400m and we're thinking it is gone by 2550m. Keep in mind, it may be a thin layer of facets that is hard to feel probing. Dig to confirm before jumping on a slope for the first time. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Anywhere from 30 cm (near Squamish) to 75 cm (North Shore) of fresh snow recently buried the old variable snow surface that includes well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep southerly aspects. Recent easy to moderate sudden planar snowpack tests suggest poor bonds within and under the recent storm snow. Colder than usual temperatures and the potential for buried surface hoar means these weaknesses will take longer than normal to stabilize. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150 cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is still failing on snowpack tests, but is likely difficult to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Due to cold and clear conditions a variety of surface snow exists from faceted (sugary) crystals to surface hoar crystals up to 8 mm in size. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in isolated areas at upper elevations. Watch for a recently buried layer of surface hoar down 30-40cm that may develop a poor bonding layer. The depth of the mid-November crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a variety of results from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in some cases no result. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below. This may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent wind has formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in the alpine. The cold temperatures and clear skies are developing facets near the surface and new surface hoar growth in sheltered locations. There may be a layer of surface hoar buried 20-30 cm deep in sheltered areas, especially in the Dogtooth Range. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-November crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. In shallower snowpack areas reports indicate that the bond to the crust is weakening and something to keep track of. Snowpack and crust depths increase as you move west toward the Selkirk Range. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets (sugary crystals) developing above and below. This may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of low density storm snow from last weekend has been redistributed into wind slabs in exposed terrain. Widespread surface faceting has been reported as well as surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, there is also a layer of surface hoar below the snow from last weekend. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. Two crusts buried in mid and early November are down 50-80 cm and 80-110 cm, respectively, and reports suggest that these crusts are currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Ongoing strong alpine winds are forming wind slabs in exposed terrain. The prolonged cold temperatures have been causing widespread surface faceting and in sheltered areas, surface hoar formation is reported.&nbsp; In shallow areas, the snowpack is most likely facetted (sugary) throughout, and any crusts have probably broken down already. In deeper areas, you can likely find the mid-November crust buried down around 50 cm. Below treeline, early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20-40 cm of low density faceted powder overlies the previous variable snow surface from late last week, which includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. The cold temperatures appear to be preserving the old (now buried) wind slabs from the end of last week and they still may be reactive to human triggering in isolated areas. Recent snowpack tests near Whistler gave hard but sudden results in faceted snow under the old hard wind slab. Moderate southwest winds over the weekend and more recent northerly winds have formed soft wind slabs in immediate leeward features. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-70 cm of faceted powder overlies the previous variable snow surface from last week, which includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. Wind slabs that have formed in response to southwest winds during the storm, or subsequent northerly winds, are sensitive to light triggers with recent reports of easy hand shears and cracking around skis. In the Duffey Lake area, recent snowpack tests gave moderate sudden planar results down 36 cm on buried surface hoar. Weaknesses have also been found within the recent storm snow with reports of moderate snowpack test results on preserved stellars down 48cm in the Coquihalla Pass area. The widespread mid-November crust typically down around a metre. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas. Faceting of the upper snowpack and surface hoar up to 12 mm has in reported in sheltered areas. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to this interface. A layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November is down 60-120 cm in many parts of the region. This layer has been dormant recently but may increase in reactivity as the storm adds new load to the snowpack. Treeline snow depths are around 140-200 cm in the Terrace and Stewart areas, but substantially less further north. Concerns in the north are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear skies and strong outflow winds have created a variety of snow surfaces including scouring and hard wind slabs in exposed areas.&nbsp; Faceting of the upper snowpack and surface hoar formation has been reported in sheltered areas. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to this interface. According to reports near Smithers, there is a layer of surface hoar down 40-50 cm, though no recent activity has been reported on this layer. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is now buried 50-60 cm deep. Early season snowpack observations are still very limited in the region, but reports suggest the average snowpack depth is 50-90 cm at treeline and 120 cm or greater in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent wind has formed isolated wind slabs on a variety of aspects in the alpine. The surface snow has been faceting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in sheltered locations. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above a crust that was buried in mid-November. This crust is be buried 90-160cm deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden to no result. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets (sugary crystals) developing above and below. This may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Continued cold temperatures are promoting surface faceting at all elevations. Surfaces are reported to be wind-affected in exposed areas well into treeline. Wind slabs exist in lee terrain at treeline and in the alpine. Areas sheltered from the wind may be developing a new surface hoar layer. The mid-November crust is buried down 100-180 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Professionals continue to monitor the crust for facet development that may provide a weak layer above a hard sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30cm of faceted powder overlies the facets and surface hoar that was buried last weekend. Variable light to moderate winds have loaded immediate leeward features with touchy wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show this persistent weakness has the propensity to propagate large avalanches if triggered, from thin rocky areas, for instance.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Today's adventure was to Murray Moraines. This area holds cold air and tends to be a known area for a weak snowpack. Below treeline, the story is the same as always- get out of there ASAP! Treeline is where we start to see a significant change in the snowpack depth and quality. The majority of areas at treeline have a consistently thick layer of facets above the crust. The older windslabs that were everywhere earlier in the month have rotted out and become less of a problem. The exception is in areas that had seen severe windloading. Any area that had a hard slab prior ro the cold snap, tends to still have the slab intact. That hard slab appears to have acted like a barrier and increased the amount of facetting below. We encountered some VERY hollow sections today. Here's the word: variable! Every ski turn brought a different character. The alpine is similar, but expect the Nov 12 crust to fade away at about 2400m. It is likely present as a weak facet layer, but at this time the whole snowpack is weak so its hard to distinguish where exactly it is.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Anywhere from 30 cm (near Squamish) to 75 cm (North Shore) of faceted powder overlies the variable old snow surface from late last week, which includes well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep southerly aspects. Recent easy to moderate sudden planar snowpack tests suggest poor bonds within and under the recent storm snow. Colder than usual temperatures and the potential for buried surface hoar means these weaknesses will take longer than normal to stabilize. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150 cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is still failing on snowpack tests, but is likely difficult to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Due to recent cold and clear conditions a variety of surface snow exists from faceted (sugary) crystals to surface hoar crystals up to 8 mm in size. Forecast new snow will likely have a poor bond  to these surfaces. Variable wind effect has created wind slabs in isolated areas at upper elevations. A buried surface hoar layer may exist down 30-40cm. The depth of the mid-November crust is also variable across the region. Reports have the crust down between 100-200 cm and snowpack tests have produced a variety of results from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in some cases no result. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets developing above and/or below. This may provide a weak layer above a smooth sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent wind has formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in the alpine and at treeline. The persistent cold temperatures have developed facets near the surface and new surface hoar growth in sheltered locations. There may be a layer of surface hoar buried 20-40 cm deep in sheltered areas, especially in the Dogtooth Range. This layer may me reactive with additional load in certain areas. Alpine snow depths are around 120-170 cm, and the widespread mid-November crust is buried down around 70-90 cm. In shallower snowpack areas reports indicate that the bond to the crust is weakening. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets (sugary crystals) developing above and below. This may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of low density storm snow from last weekend has been redistributed into wind slabs in exposed terrain. Widespread surface faceting has been reported as well as surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, there is also a layer of surface hoar down 20-30 cm. The mid pack is reported to be well settled. Two crusts buried in mid and early November are down 50-80 cm and 80-110 cm, respectively, and reports suggest that these crusts are currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Ongoing strong alpine winds have formed wind slabs in exposed terrain. The prolonged cold temperatures have been causing widespread surface faceting and in sheltered areas, surface hoar formation is reported. A layer of surface hoar from early December is reported to be down 20-40 cm in the southeast of the region. The thick mid-November crust layer is buried near the bottom of the snowpack and recent tests suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow. Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10cm of new snow overlies the previous variable snow surface from late last week, which includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or small surface hoar. The cold temperatures appear to be preserving the old (now buried) wind slabs from the end of last week and they still may be reactive to human triggering in isolated areas. Recent snowpack tests near Whistler gave hard but sudden results in faceted snow under the old hard wind slab. Moderate southwest winds over the weekend and more recent northerly winds have formed soft wind slabs in immediate leeward features. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">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, or subsequent northerly winds, are sensitive to light triggers with recent reports of easy hand shears and cracking around skis. In the Duffey Lake area, recent snowpack tests gave moderate sudden planar results down 36 cm on buried surface hoar. Weaknesses have also been found within the recent storm snow with reports of moderate snowpack test results on preserved stellars down 48cm in the Coquihalla Pass area. The widespread mid-November crust typically down around a metre. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new storm snow sits over a highly variable interface resulting from over a week of clear skies, cold temperatures, and strong outflow winds. This mid-December interface consists of scoured surfaces and hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and 5-10 mm surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November was down 50-80 cm in many parts of the region prior to the storm. This layer has been dormant recently but may increase in reactivity as the storm adds new load to the snowpack. In many areas in the region, the snowpack is reported to be very thin and faceting is being reported through the entire snowpack. In these areas, old rain crusts from November are developing weak facets. Concerns in the north of the region are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas especially on smooth alpine features like glaciers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new storm snow sits over a highly variable interface resulting from over a week of clear skies, cold temperatures, and strong outflow winds. This mid-December interface consists of scoured surfaces and hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to this interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowpack observations have been very limited recently. An old social media post near Smithers suggests there is a layer of surface hoar in the upper snowpack. The snowpack is very shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is expected in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is expected to be developing facets. A report from the Ningunsaw Pass area suggests that depth hoar is developing in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent wind has formed isolated wind slabs on a variety of aspects in the alpine. The surface snow has been faceting due to the cold temperatures, and some surface hoar has been developing in sheltered locations. The mid-pack has been reported to be well settled above a crust that was buried in mid-November. This crust is be buried 90-160cm deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden to no result. If you dig down to the crust, watch for facets (sugary crystals) developing above and below. This may provide a hard surface with a weak sliding layer in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Continued cold temperatures have left us with a variety of snow surfaces including  facets at all elevations and some surface hoar in sheltered locations. Wind slabs exist in lee terrain at treeline and in the alpine. The mid-November crust is buried down 100-180 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Professionals continue to monitor the crust for facet (sugary snow crystals) development that may provide a weak layer above a hard sliding surface in the future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30cm of faceted powder overlies the facets and surface hoar that was buried last weekend. Variable light to moderate winds have loaded immediate leeward features with touchy wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show this persistent weakness has the propensity to propagate large avalanches if triggered, from thin rocky areas, for instance.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Expect to encounter windslabs in open terrain in the alpine and at treeline and some un-distrubed snow in more sheltered areas. The 1112cr is down 50-70cm and producing variable results often within a few meters so be sure to evaluate this layer. The cold temps have certainly taken their toll on lower snowpack areas and they are weak and facetted. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">5-10cm of new snow overlies the variable old snow surface from late last week, which includes well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep southerly aspects. Recent easy to moderate sudden planar snowpack tests suggest poor bonds within and under the recent storm snow. Colder than usual temperatures last week and the potential for buried surface hoar means these weaknesses will take longer than normal to stabilize. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150 cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is still failing on snowpack tests, but is likely difficult to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of storm snow (more to come!) sits over a plethora of old snow surfaces including wind effected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals and a thin sun crust on some steep solar aspects. The new snow will likely have a poor bond to these surfaces. Deeper in the snowpack exist two layers that may become reactive through these next series of storms. The first being a spotty surface hoar layer that sits 30-40 cm down and the mid-November crust that sits 100-200 cm down. Recent test results on these layers have varied from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in some cases no result. In shallower snowpack areas faceting is happening below and above the crust. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial especially while it's being loaded by new snow. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 15 cm of storm snow sits over a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new snow will likely have a poor bond to these surfaces. 20-40 cm below this new snow sits an older buried surface ho</span><span class="s_3FE45715">ar layer, reported from the Dogtooth Range. This layer may me reactive with additional load. The mid-November crust is buried down around 70-90 cm and test results have been variable from sudden failures to no results. In shallower snowpack areas reports indicate that the bond to the crust is weakening. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial especially as we move forward into this snowy period where the snowpack will see more load. </span><span class="s_1681A555" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow buries a variable surface that developed over the last week of cold, dry, and windy conditions. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, there may be a layer of surface hoar in the upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. The mid pack is generally well settled. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and reports suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow buries a variable surface that developed over the last week of cold, dry, and windy conditions. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, there may be a layer of surface hoar in the upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. The mid pack is generally well settled. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and recent tests suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow. Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-30cm of 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. Moderate to strong southwest have redistributed this new snow to form windslabs in the lee of terrain features in the alpine and treeline. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">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 moderate sudden planar results down 36 cm on buried surface hoar. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down approximately 1 metre. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new storm snow sits over a highly variable interface resulting from over a week of clear skies, cold temperatures, and strong outflow winds. This mid-December interface consists of scoured surfaces and hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and 5-10 mm surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November was down 50-80 cm in many parts of the region prior to the storm. This layer has been dormant recently but may increase in reactivity as the storm adds new load to the snowpack. In many areas in the region, the snowpack is reported to be very thin and faceting has been reported through the entire snowpack. In these areas, old rain crusts from November are developing weak facets. Concerns in the north of the region are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new storm snow sits over a highly variable interface resulting from over a week of clear skies, cold temperatures, and strong outflow winds. This mid-December interface consists of scoured surfaces and hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to this interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowpack observations have been very limited recently in the region. An old social media post near Smithers suggests there is a layer of surface hoar in the upper snowpack. The snowpack is very shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is expected in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is expected to be developing facets. Reports from the Ningunsaw Pass area and the far north of the region suggest that depth hoar is developing in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of storm snow (more to come!) sits over a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new snow will likely have a poor bond to these surfaces. Deeper in the snowpack exist two layers that may become reactive through these next series of storms. The first being a spotty surface hoar layer that sits 30-40 cm down and the mid-November crust buried 90-160 cm deep, depending on elevation and previous exposure to winds. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden to no result. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial especially as we move forward into this snowy period where the snowpack will see more load. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of new storm snow sits above a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow will likely have a poor bond to these. The mid-November crust is buried down 70-150 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial especially as we move forward into this snowy period where the snowpack will see more load.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20cm of new snow has buried previously formed winslabs, facets and surface hoar. Moderate to strong winds have loaded leeward features with new touchy wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show variable results with this persistent weakness. Some show results as hard and resistant and other show it may have the propensity to propagate large avalanches if triggered from thin rocky areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Variable wind slab conditions exist in the Alpine and open areas at Treeline. Strong winds today are contributing further to this issue. The November 12th crust layer is buried 50 to 70cm and continues to give widely variable test results, indicating the need to carefully evaluate each terrain feature. Otherwise the snowpack is weak and facetted after almost 2 weeks of continuously cold temperatures.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">New moist or wet new snow overlies the variable old snow surface from late last week, which includes well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep southerly aspects. With the potential for buried surface hoar means storm snow weaknesses from this latest storm will take longer than normal to stabilize. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150 cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is still failing on snowpack tests, but is likely difficult to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 35 cm of storm snow (more to come!) sits over a plethora of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, surface hoar crystals and a thin sun crust on steep solar aspects. The new snow will likely have a poor bond to these surfaces. Deeper in the snowpack exist two layers that could become reactive through the next series of storms. The first being a spotty surface hoar layer that sits 30-40 cm down and the mid-November crust that sits 100-200 cm down. Recent test results on these layers have varied from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in some cases no result. In shallower snowpack areas faceting is happening below and above the crust. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial especially while it's being loaded by new snow. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 15 cm of storm snow sits over a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new snow will likely have a poor bond to these surfaces. 20-40 cm below this new snow sits an older buried surface hoar layer, reported from the Dogtooth Range. This layer may me reactive with additional load. The mid-November crust is buried down around 70-90 cm and test results have been variable from sudden failures to no results. In shallower snowpack areas reports indicate that the bond to the crust is weakening. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial especially as we move forward into this snowy period where the snowpack will see more load. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Monday afternoon, up to 45cm of low-density snow had fallen with the highest amounts accumulating in the Lizard Range. Intense wind transport was reported to have occurred at all elevations, and reactive wind slabs are expected to exist. The new snow buries a variable surface that developed over the last week of cold, dry, and windy conditions. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, you may find another layer of surface hoar in the mid to upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. The mid pack is generally well settled. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and reports suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow on Sunday night and strong southerly winds have likely created fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. The new snow buries a variable surface that developed over the last week of cold, dry, and windy conditions. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, there may be another layer of surface hoar in the upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. The mid pack is generally well settled. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and recent tests suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow. Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50cm of 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. Moderate to strong southwest wind has redistributed this new snow to form windslabs in the lee of terrain features in the alpine and treeline. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50cm 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 moderate sudden planar results down 36 cm on buried surface hoar. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down approximately 1 metre. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On Sunday night the region got pummeled by heavy snowfall and extreme westerly winds. By Monday morning, 24 hour totals were around 40cm around Bear Pass, and between 40 and 85 cm along the Hwy 16 corridor. The resulting deep storm slab sits over a highly variable interface resulting from over a week of clear skies, cold temperatures, and strong outflow winds. This mid-December interface consists of scoured surfaces and hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and 5-10 mm surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November was down 50-80 cm in many parts of the region prior to the storm. This layer has been dormant recently but may increase in reactivity as the storm adds new load to the snowpack. In many areas in the region, the snowpack is reported to be very thin and faceting has been reported through the entire snowpack. In these areas, old rain crusts from November are developing weak facets. Concerns in the north of the region are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 3 and 15 cm of new snow fell on Sunday night. Extreme winds have redistributed the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. The new storm snow sits over a highly variable interface resulting from over a week of clear skies, cold temperatures, and strong outflow winds. This mid-December interface consists of scoured surfaces and hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to this interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowpack observations have been very limited recently in the region. The snowpack is very shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is expected in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is expected to be developing facets. Reports from the Ningunsaw Pass area and the far north of the region suggest that depth hoar is developing in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 35 cm of storm snow (more to come!) sits over a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new snow will likely have a poor bond to these surfaces. Deeper in the snowpack exist two layers that may become reactive through these next series of storms. The first being a spotty surface hoar layer that sits 30-40 cm down and the mid-November crust buried 90-160 cm deep. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden to no result. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial, especially as we move forward into this stormy period where the snowpack will see more load.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of new storm snow sits above a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow will likely have a poor bond to these. The mid-November crust is buried down 70-150 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial especially as we move forward into this stormy period where the snowpack will see more load.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-25cm of new snow has buried previously formed windslabs, facets and surface hoar. Moderate to strong winds have loaded leeward features with new touchy wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show variable results with this persistent weakness. Some show results as hard and resistant and other show it may have the propensity to propagate large avalanches if triggered from thin rocky areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-15cm new snow in last 36 hrs with strong westerly winds. Extensive wind slabs in Alpine and open areas at TL.. The Nov 12th crust layer is buried 50-70cm and continues to give variable test results. Most of the snow pack is faceted and weak, especially where more shallow. The weather forecast is indicating another 10-15cm with strong winds which means the wind slabs will continue to grow and become more sensitive to human triggering.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 50cm new moist or wet new snow overlies the variable old snow surface from late last week, which includes well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep southerly aspects. With the potential for buried surface hoar means storm snow weaknesses from this latest storm will take longer than normal to stabilize. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150 cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is still failing on snowpack tests, but is likely difficult to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 50 cm of storm snow sits above a plethora of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, surface hoar crystals and a thin sun crust on steep solar aspects. The new snow will likely have a poor bond to these old surfaces. Deeper in the snowpack exist two potentially weak layers that may become reactive under the new load from the recent storm snow. The first being a spotty surface hoar layer down 40-80 cm and the mid-November crust that sits 100-200 cm down. Recent test results on these layers have varied from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in some cases no result. In shallower snowpack areas faceting is happening below and above the crust. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial as it adjust to the new load of snow above it. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-30 cm of storm snow sits over a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow may have a poor bond to these surfaces. 25-65 cm below this new snow sits an older buried surface hoar layer which was reported from the Dogtooth Range. This layer may become reactive with additional load. The mid-November crust is buried down around 85-150 cm and test results have been variable from sudden failures to no results. In shallower snowpack areas reports indicate that the bond to the crust is weakening. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial as it adapts to the new load of snow above it. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since Sunday up to 60cm of low-density snow has fallen with the highest amounts accumulating in the Lizard Range. Strong winds and slight warming have added cohesion to the new snow and reactive storm slabs exist in wind-exposed terrain. The new snow buries a variable surface that developed over the last week of cold, dry, and windy conditions. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, you may find another layer of surface hoar in the mid to upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. The mid pack is generally well settled. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and reports suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since Sunday night, up to 40cm of new snow has fallen. In exposed terrain, strong to extreme winds have redistributed much of this snow into fresh wind slabs. The new snow buries a variable surface that developed over the last week of cold, dry, and windy conditions. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, there may be another layer of surface hoar in the upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. Observations have been limited, however, the reports we've received suggest the mid and lower snowpack are somewhat unconsolidated and faceting exists to varying degrees.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50cm of 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. Moderate to strong southwest wind has redistributed this new snow to form windslabs in the lee of terrain features in the alpine and treeline. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">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 moderate sudden planar results down 50 cm on buried surface hoar. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down approximately 1 metre. Recent snowpack tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could become a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On Sunday night the region got pummeled by heavy snowfall and extreme westerly winds. By Monday morning, 24 hour totals were around 40cm in Bear Pass, and between 40 and 85 cm along the Hwy 16 corridor west of Terrace. With heavy snowfall and extreme winds forecast for Tuesday night, the developing storm slab will increase in depth and destructive potential. The new snow sits over a highly variable interface resulting from last week's cold snap. This mid-December interface consists of hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and 5-10 mm surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow may bond poorly to this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November was down 50-80 cm in many parts of the region prior to the storm. This layer has been dormant recently but may increase in reactivity with storm loading. In many areas in the region, the snowpack is reported to be very thin and faceting has been reported through the entire snowpack. In these areas, old rain crusts from November are developing weak facets. Concerns in the north of the region are basal weaknesses that may exist in the shallower snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 3 and 15 cm of new snow fell on Sunday night. Extreme winds have redistributed the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. More wind and snow on Tuesday night will add to this developing wind slab problem. The recent storm snow sits over a highly variable interface resulting from over a week of clear skies, cold temperatures, and strong outflow winds. This mid-December interface consists of scoured surfaces and hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow may bond poorly to this interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowpack observations have been very limited recently in the region. The snowpack is very shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is expected in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is expected to be developing facets. Reports from the Ningunsaw Pass area and the far north of the region suggest that depth hoar is developing in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 60 cm of recent storm snow sits on a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new snow will likely have a poor bond to these surfaces. Deeper in the snowpack exist two layers that may become reactive under the new load from the recent storm snow. The first being a spotty surface hoar layer that sits 40-100 cm down and the mid-November crust buried 100-200 cm deep. Snowpack tests on the crust have shown variable results from sudden to no result. Tracking and monitoring these potentially weak layers is important as they adjust to the new load of snow above. </span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-70 cm of new storm snow sits above a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow will likely have a poor bond to these old surfaces. The mid-November crust is buried down 70-150 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. Moderate results may be more likely in shallower snowpack areas, and deeper snowpack areas may be more likely to show no results on this layer. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial especially as the snowpack adjusts to the new load. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40 cm of new snow has buried previously formed windslabs, facets and surface hoar. Moderate to strong winds have loaded leeward features with new touchy wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show variable results with this persistent weakness. Some show results as hard and resistant and other show it may have the propensity to propagate large avalanches if triggered from thin rocky areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong alpine and treeline winds have transported a huge amount of snow. Any new snow that fell has been blown into storm slabs. Even the older facetted snow has been blown around to create fresh windslabs. Areas near the divide (Burstall Pass) saw up to 20cm of new snow in the last 24-48 hours. When that fresh snow is combined with wind, slabs up to 60cm thick are common. Open areas at treeline and alpine have a widespread windslab problem and alpine areas have an additional storm slab problem in immediate lees(easterly aspects). It feels as though we are on the verge of a small natural cycle. These slabs appear to be running on the older windslabs, but quickly involving the midpack facets. The mid pack is weak enough that entrainment after the initial failure is a real concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 60cm new moist or wet new snow overlies the variable old snow surface from late last week, which includes well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep southerly aspects. With the potential for buried surface hoar means storm snow weaknesses from this latest storm will take longer than normal to stabilize. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150 cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is still failing on snowpack tests, but is likely difficult to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 60 cm of storm snow sits above a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, surface hoar crystals and a thin sun crust on steep solar aspects. There is a bit of uncertainty regarding how the new snow is bonding to these old snow surfaces. Two potential weak layers deeper in the snowpack may become reactive under the new load from the recent storm snow. The first being a spotty surface hoar layer down 40-80 cm and then the mid-November crust that sits 100-200 cm down. Recent test results on these layers have varied from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in some cases no result. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-30 cm of storm snow sits over a variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow may have a poor bond to these surfaces. So far the upper snowpack has remained soft. As it becomes denser and stiffer, we may start to see slab avalanches occur at this interface. 30-50 cm below the surface sits an older buried surface hoar layer, which was reported from the Dogtooth Range. This layer may become reactive as the upper snowpack becomes denser. The mid-November crust is buried down around 85-150 cm and test results have been variable from sudden failures to no results. In shallower snowpack areas reports indicate that the bond to the crust is weakening. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial as it adapts to the new load of snow above it. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since Sunday up to 60cm of low-density snow has fallen with the highest amounts accumulating in the Lizard Range. Strong winds and slight warming have added cohesion to the new snow and reactive storm slabs exist in wind-exposed terrain. The new snow buries a variable surface that developed over the last week of cold, dry, and windy conditions. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, you may find another layer of surface hoar in the mid to upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. The mid pack is generally well settled. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and reports suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since Sunday night, 15-40cm of new snow has fallen. In exposed terrain, strong to extreme winds have redistributed much of this snow into fresh wind slabs. The new snow buries a variable surface that developed over the last week of cold, dry, and windy conditions. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, there may be another layer of surface hoar in the upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. Observations have been limited, however, the reports we've received suggest the mid and lower snowpack are somewhat unconsolidated and faceting exists to varying degrees.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50cm of 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. Moderate to strong southwest wind has redistributed this new snow to form windslabs in the lee of terrain features in the alpine and treeline. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">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. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 125 cm new snow has been recorded in this region since the storm started last Saturday. Winds have also been cranking. All this new snow sits over a highly variable interface comprising of hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and 5-10 mm surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow was expected to bond poorly to this interface, but it's been notable how few avalanches have been reported, and the ones that have have been on the smaller side (typically size 2). Did the outflow winds scour the surface of any surface hoar before the new snow arrived? Has the upper snowpack remained soft preventing large slab avalanches? Is nobody out there looking because the storm has been so severe? </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In areas with less snow, there are two additional layers that should be on your radar. The first is a layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November and may now be down around a metre in thinner spots. The second is an old rain crust from November that may have developed weak facets, particularly in the north of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 60 cm new storm snow now sits over a highly variable interface comprising of wind-scoured surfaces, hard wind slabs, faceted (sugary) snow, and maybe some feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow is expected to bond poorly to this interface, but observations to confirm this are hard to come by. The winds have been cranking, and the new snow has been blowing into wind slabs behind exposed terrain features. The snowpack is still shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is likely in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is probably surrounded by sugary facets. Reports from the Ningunsaw Pass area and the far north of the region suggest that depth hoar is developing in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 60 cm of recent storm snow sits on a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. Snowpack tests indicate easy, sudden shears on this interface, indicating a poor bond with the underlying snow. However, so far, avalanches associated with this layer have been relatively small (size 1 to 2) and mostly limited to windy areas or unsupported features. This may change as the upper snowpack starts to become stiffer and denser - if it does we may start to see wider propagation resulting in the potential for larger avalanches. Telltale signs of this will be whumpfs or remote-triggering of avalanches from flat terrain. Deeper in the snowpack exist two layers that could still be important in isolated areas. The first is a spotty surface hoar layer that sits 40-100 cm down, the second is the mid-November crust now buried 100-200 cm deep.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-70 cm of new storm snow sits above a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow was expected to bond poorly to these old surfaces; however, less avalanche activity than expected has been noted on this layer, indicating the bond may not be quite as poor as expected. The upper snowpack is still soft - as this becomes stiffer and denser, we may start to see more slab avalanche activity on this layer. The mid-November crust is now buried down 70-150 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40 cm of new snow has buried previously formed windslabs, facets and surface hoar. There is a bit of uncertainty regarding how the new snow is bonding to old surfaces which formed during last week's cold clear period. Moderate to strong winds have loaded leeward features with new touchy wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show variable results with this persistent weakness. Some show results as hard and resistant and other show it may have the propensity to propagate large avalanches if triggered from thin rocky areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another 10 to 12cm of new snow in the past 24 hours pushes the recent storm snow up to between 30 to 40cm. The storm snow interface produced moderate shears today in snowpack tests. Wind slabs are dominant in Alpine and Treeline areas, especially in lee and cross-loaded features. The November crust layer buried between 50 and 90cm continues to be a layer we are watching closely, but snowpack test results remain highly variable at this interface. The low elevation snowpack remains weak and facetted.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 70cm moist or wet new snow overlies the variable old snow surface from late last week, which includes well settled snow on southerly aspects, loose snow on shaded aspects, isolated pockets of surface hoar, and sun crusts on steep southerly aspects. With the potential for buried surface hoar means storm snow weaknesses from this latest snowfall will take longer than normal to stabilize. An old rain crust is reported to be down 170 cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is strengthening in snowpack tests and is likely difficult to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 60 cm of recent storm snow sits above a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, surface hoar crystals, and/or a thin sun crust on steep solar aspects. There is still some uncertainty regarding how the new snow is bonding to these old snow surfaces. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layers have varied from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in many cases no result. This layer is generally considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40 cm of storm snow sits over a variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow may have a poor bond to these surfaces in some areas. So far the upper snowpack has remained soft. As it becomes denser and stiffer, we may start to see slab avalanches occur at this interface. 30-50 cm below the surface sits an older buried surface hoar layer, which was reported from the Dogtooth Range. This layer may become reactive as the upper snowpack becomes denser. The mid-November crust is buried down around 85-150 cm and test results have been variable from sudden failures to no results. In shallower snowpack areas, reports indicate that the bond to the crust is weakening. Tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial as it adapts to the new load of snow above it. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since Sunday up to 60cm of low-density snow has fallen with the highest amounts accumulating in the Lizard Range. Strong winds and slight warming have added cohesion to the new snow and reactive wind slabs exist in exposed terrain. The new snow buries a variable surface that developed over the last week of cold, dry, and windy conditions. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar up to 20mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, you may find another layer of surface hoar in the mid to upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. The mid pack is generally well settled. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and reports suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since Sunday night, 15-40cm of new snow has fallen. In exposed terrain, strong to extreme winds have redistributed much of this snow into fresh wind slabs. The new snow buries a variable surface that developed over the last week of cold, dry, and windy conditions. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, there may be another layer of surface hoar in the upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. Observations have been limited, however, the reports we've received suggest the mid and lower snowpack are somewhat unconsolidated and faceting exists to varying degrees. Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The storm snow from earlier this week has been redistributed in the alpine and exposed treeline by strong to extreme winds. This has left a variety of hard surfaces that may include sastrugi, wind crust and hard wind slab. This surface has now been covered by 5-10cm of new snow that fell on Thursday. In sheltered areas treeline and below 30-50cm of snow overlies the previous variable snow surface from last week, which included weak faceted snow or surface hoar. The widespread mid-November crust is typically down 1-2m in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">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. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 125 cm new snow was recorded in this region between 17 and 21 December. Winds were often extreme, and fresh hard wind slabs are reported to be widespread. All this new snow sits over a highly variable interface comprising of hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, widespread faceting of the upper snowpack, and 5-10 mm surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow was expected to bond poorly to this interface, but it's been notable how few avalanches have been reported, and the ones that have have been on the smaller side (typically size 2). Did the outflow winds scour the surface of any surface hoar before the new snow arrived? Has the upper snowpack remained soft preventing large slab avalanches? Is nobody out there looking because the storm has been so severe? </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In areas with less snow, there are two additional layers that should be on your radar. The first is a layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November and may now be down around a metre in thinner spots. The second is an old rain crust from November that may have developed weak facets, particularly in the north of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 50 cm new storm snow now sits over a highly variable interface comprising of wind-scoured surfaces, hard wind slabs, faceted (sugary) snow, and maybe some feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new appears to have bonded poorly to this interface. The winds were extreme through much of the storm, and hard wind slabs now exist behind exposed terrain features. The snowpack is still shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is likely in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is probably surrounded by sugary facets. Basal facets and depth hoar (more sugary crystals) right at the bottom of the snowpack are reportedly widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 60 cm of recent storm snow sits on a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. Snowpack tests indicate easy, sudden shears on this interface, indicating a poor bond with the underlying snow. However, so far, avalanches associated with this layer have been relatively small (size 1 to 2) and mostly limited to windy areas or unsupported features. This may change as the upper snowpack starts to become stiffer and denser - if it does we may start to see wider propagation resulting in the potential for larger avalanches. Telltale signs of this will be whumpfs or remote-triggering of avalanches from flat terrain. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layers have varied from moderate and sudden to hard and resistant, and in many cases no result. This layer is generally considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-70 cm of new storm snow sits above a plethora of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow was expected to bond poorly to these old surfaces; however, less avalanche activity than expected has been noted on this layer, indicating the bond may not be quite as poor as expected. The upper snowpack is still soft - as this becomes stiffer and denser, we may start to see more slab avalanche activity on this layer. The thick mid-November crust is now buried down 70-150 cm and produces variable results in snowpack tests. This layer is generally considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40 cm of new snow from earlier in the week has buried old wind slabs, facets and surface hoar. There is a bit of uncertainty regarding how the new snow is bonding to old surfaces which formed during last week's cold clear period. Moderate to strong winds have loaded leeward features with wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is typically down 80-100cm. Recent tests show variable results with this persistent weakness. Some show results as hard and resistant and other show it may have the propensity to propagate if triggered from thin rocky areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Not much is changing out there at this time.  Our main concern at this time is the widespread hard slabs that should be expected in alpine areas.  These slabs are up to 50cm thick in some areas and are quite stiff so they have the ability to propagate across a terrain features such as a bowl or gully.  The areas where you may be able to trigger the weak underlying facets will be important to be aware of.  Avoid thin snowpack areas especially in steep or unsupported terrain.  Sheltered areas are the place to be but the problem is the snowpack below 2000m is still quite thin, or weak and facetted.  Happy hunting. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A 2-3cm rain crust is now buried by 5-10cm of new snow in the alpine and at tree line. This all overlies well settled storm snow from last week's series of storms that seems to have a good bond to the layers below. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150-180cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer has strengthened in snowpack tests and is unlikely to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-70 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, surface hoar crystals, and/or a thin sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in many areas. However, where surface hoar has been preserved, the interface is still reactive. In wind affected terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50 cm of storm snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow appears to have a poor bond to these surfaces in some areas. In wind exposed terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs. The weak layer appears to be increasing the reactivity of these wind slabs. In sheltered terrain, the recent storm snow has remained soft. As it continues to settle and become stiffer, we may start to see a more widespread persistent slab problem develop. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 70-140 cm down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest that the layer may still be reactive in some places, especially in shallow snowpack areas. There have not been any recent avalanches on this layer and it is generally considered dormant but tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial as it adapts to the new load of snow above it. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of new low density snow sits above 30-40 cm of settling storm snow from earlier this week. The storm snow sits above a variable surface that developed during the cold, dry, and windy conditions earlier this month and has been most reactive in wind-exposed terrain. The old interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in exposed terrain, weak faceted (sugary) snow, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, you may find another layer of surface hoar and facets in the mid-pack that was buried around December 10. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and reports suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of new low density snow sits above 15-40 cm of settled storm snow. The storm snow has been redistributed into wind slabs in exposed terrain by strong to extreme winds. The new snow buries a variable surface that developed during the cold, dry, and windy conditions from earlier this month. This interface consists of scoured surfaces and wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, weak faceted (sugary) snow, and feathery surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. In sheltered areas, there may be another layer of surface hoar in the upper snowpack which was buried around December 10. Observations have been limited, however, the reports we've received suggest the mid and lower snowpack are somewhat unconsolidated and faceting exists to varying degrees. Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A light snowfall from Thursday deposited 5-10cm of new snow on the surface. Strong winds overnight caused redistribution of this snow in high elevation and wind exposed areas. Where it hasn't blown away, the new snow lies above a variety of hard surfaces that may include sastrugi, wind crust and hard wind slab. Strong to extreme winds formed this surface and caused significant wind redistribution of the underlying storm snow from earlier this week. This 30-50cm of storm snow overlies a variable snow surface from last week that includes either weak faceted snow or surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. The widespread mid-November crust is buried 1-2m deep in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-15cm of new snow fell on Thursday, adding to the 30-60cm of storm snow the region has seen since Sunday. In higher elevation and exposed areas, the storm snow formed wind slabs in response to southwest winds. The new snow and wind slabs overlie a variable snow surface from last week that includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or surface hoar. 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. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear cold weather has limited settlement of the recent storm snow. New surface hoar and sun crusts have been reported forming on the snow surface and intense snow transport has been observed in the alpine. The region received up to 125 cm of new snow between 17 and 21 December. The new snow arrived with extreme winds, which has left widespread hard wind slabs in exposed terrain. All this new snow sits over a highly variable interface comprising of hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, weak faceted (sugary) snow, and 5-10 mm feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow was expected to bond poorly to this interface, but it's been notable how few avalanches have been reported. In areas with less snow, there are two additional layers that should be on your radar. The first is a layer of surface hoar which was buried mid-November and may now be down around a metre in thinner spots. The second is an old rain crust from November that may have developed weak facets, particularly in the north of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 50 cm new storm snow now sits over a highly variable interface comprising of wind-scoured surfaces, hard wind slabs, faceted (sugary) snow, and maybe some feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow appears to have bonded poorly to this interface. The winds were extreme through much of the storm, and hard wind slabs now exist behind exposed terrain features. The snowpack is still shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is likely in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is probably surrounded by sugary facets. Basal facets and depth hoar (more sugary crystals) right at the bottom of the snowpack are reportedly widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-70 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is generally well bonded to the interface in many areas. However, where surface hoar has been preserved, the interface is still reactive. In wind affected terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-70 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is generally well bonded to the interface in many areas. However, where surface hoar has been preserved, I would be concerned that the interface is still reactive. In wind affected terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10cm of new snow on Friday has brought storm snow totals to 30-60cm since snowfall began at the beginning of the week. The storm snow has buried old wind slabs, facets and surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding how the new snow is bonding to old surfaces which formed during last week's cold clear period. Moderate to strong winds have loaded leeward features with wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is now buried 80-100cm deep. Recent tests show variable results with this persistent weakness. Some show results as hard and resistant and others show a sudden character, suggesting it may be likely to propagate if triggered from thin, rocky areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">6-8cm of new snow over the past 24hrs is adding up to 30-40cm of recent snow over the past 7 days.  Earlier in the week widespread windslabs were observed in alpine areas and isolated areas at treeline.  These previous windslabs are now buried by the most recent snow making them slightly more difficult to locate.  Forecasters throughout the week have been able to trigger sz 2 avalanches in low alpine terrain failing down 30-100cm.  What we are noticing is how fast these slabs become reactive as soon as one transitions into wind affected terrain (often just a few steps).  Be especially careful as you move into any open feature in alpine and treeline areas, especially on N and E aspects.  </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snowfall from the past 24 hours has deposited up to 15cm in the alpine and at treeline on the South Coast. This new snow covers a 2-3cm rain crust that formed on December 20. The crust overlies well settled storm snow from last week's series of storms. The storm snow seems to have a good bond to the layers below, despite the surface hoar and faceted snow that can still be found here. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150-180cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer has strengthened in snowpack tests and is considered unlikely to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, surface hoar crystals, and/or a thin sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in many areas. However, where a spotty layer of surface hoar has been preserved, the interface is still reactive. In wind affected terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs. These wind slabs may now be buried under 10-20 cm of low density snow which fell without much wind on Friday.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50 cm of storm snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow appears to have a poor bond to these surfaces in some areas. In wind exposed terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs. The weak layer appears to be increasing the reactivity of these wind slabs. In sheltered terrain, the recent storm snow has remained soft. As it continues to settle and become stiffer, we may start to see a more widespread persistent slab problem develop. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 70-140 cm down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest that the layer may still be reactive in some places, especially in shallow snowpack areas. There have not been any recent avalanches on this layer and it is generally considered dormant but tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial as it adapts to the new load of snow above it. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent flurries delivered 10-20 cm of low density powder, which now sits above hard wind slabs and 20-40 cm of settling storm snow from last week's storm. A variable interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found under the recent storm snow. This interface consists of hard wind packed snow in exposed terrain, weak faceted (sugary) snow, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. This interface could evolve into a persistent slab problem once the recent storm snow settles into a slab. In the mid-pack you may find another layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas or weak facets that were buried around December 10. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and reports suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent flurries delivered 10-15 cm of low density powder, which now sits above hard wind slabs and settling storm snow from early last week. A variable interface that formed during the cold snap in early December can be found 20-40 cm under the new snow. This interface consists of hard wind packed snow in exposed terrain, weak</span><span class="s_6A269DDD"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">faceted (sugary) snow, and feathery surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. This interface could evolve into a persistent slab problem once the recent storm snow settles into a slab. The snowpack is a generally weak and faceted below this interface, including another interface with surface hoar or facets that was buried in early December. Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowfall from Thursday and Friday deposited 5-20cm of new snow on the surface. Strong winds have continued to redistribute this snow in high elevation and wind exposed areas. Where it hasn't blown away, the new snow lies above a variety of hard surfaces that may include sastrugi, wind crust and hard wind slab. Strong to extreme winds formed these surfaces and caused significant wind redistribution of the underlying storm snow from earlier this week. This 30-50cm of storm snow overlies a variable snow surface from last week that includes either weak faceted snow or surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. The widespread mid-November crust is buried 1-2m deep in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of 3-5mm surface hoar has grown on the surface in the Duffey Lake area. Below this, 10-20cm of new snow fell over Thursday and Friday. This new snow has been redistributed in some exposed areas and added to the 30-60cm of storm snow the region has seen since Sunday. In higher elevation and exposed areas, this storm snow formed wind slabs in response to southwest winds. The new snow and wind slabs overlie a variable snow surface from last week that includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or surface hoar. 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. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear cold weather has limited settlement of the recent storm snow. New surface hoar (up to 15 mm) and sun crusts have been reported forming on the snow surface, and intense snow transport has been observed in the alpine. The region received up to 125 cm of new snow between 17 and 21 December. The new snow arrived with extreme winds, which has left widespread hard wind slabs in exposed terrain. All this new snow sits over a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs in wind exposed terrain, weak faceted (sugary) snow, and 5-10 mm feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas. The bond between the newer storm snow and this interface is a concern and could develop into a persistent slab problem. In areas with less snow, there are two additional layers that should be on your radar. The first is a layer of surface hoar that was buried in mid-November and may now be down around a metre in thinner spots. The second is an old rain crust from November that may have developed weak facets, particularly in the north of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Clear cold weather has limited the settlement of recent storm snow and resulted in the formation of new surface hoar and surface facets. Last week, extreme winds formed hard wind slabs behind exposed terrain features. Elsewhere, up to 50 cm of low density snow sits over a highly variable interface comprised of wind-scoured surfaces, hard wind slabs, faceted (sugary) snow, and feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new snow appears to have bonded poorly to this interface. The snowpack is still shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is likely in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is likely surrounded by sugary facets. Basal facets and depth hoar (more sugary crystals) right at the bottom of the snowpack are reportedly widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-70 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in many areas. However, where a spotty layer of surface hoar has been preserved, the interface is still reactive. In wind affected terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs. These wind slabs may now be buried under 10-20 cm of low density snow which fell without much wind on Friday.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-70 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in many areas. However, where a spotty layer of surface hoar has been preserved, the interface is still reactive. In wind affected terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs. These wind slabs may now be buried under 10-20 cm of low density snow which fell without much wind on Friday.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-15cm of new snow over Thursday and Friday has brought storm snow totals to 30-60cm since snowfall began at the beginning of the week. The storm snow has buried old wind slabs, facets and surface hoar. There is some uncertainty regarding how the new snow is bonding to old surfaces which formed during last week's cold clear period. Moderate to strong winds have loaded leeward features with wind slabs. A widespread crust that was buried in November is now 80-100cm deep in the snowpack. Recent tests show variable results with this persistent weakness. Some show results as hard and resistant and others show a sudden character, suggesting it may be likely to propagate if triggered from thin, rocky areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">An additional 10cm of snow fell overnight on the 23rd giving us up to 20cm of snow over the past 48hrs at treeline.  Lower elevations saw about half that amount. This new snow fell under the influence of light winds and as a result, has made it tougher to locate the previous windslabs that formed earlier in the week.  Over the past week the forecasting team has been easily able to trigger the now hidden windslabs that were failing on a layer of facets from the cold temperatures earlier in december.  These windslabs are being encountered in open alpine terrain as well as in specific features at treeline such as gullies and cross-loaded features.  Conservative terrain selection is important at this time. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snowfall from the past 24 hours has deposited 15-20cm in the alpine and at treeline on the South Coast. This new snow covers a 2-3cm rain crust that formed on December 20. The crust overlies well settled storm snow from last week's series of storms. The storm snow seems to have a good bond to the layers below, despite the surface hoar and faceted snow that can still be found here. An old rain crust is reported to be down 150-180cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer has strengthened in snowpack tests and is considered unlikely to trigger in most places now.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of snow has accumulated over the past week and overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, surface hoar crystals, and/or a thin sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent tests suggest the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas. However, where a spotty layer of surface hoar has been preserved, the interface is still reactive in snowpack tests. In wind affected terrain, the storm snow had been redistributed into reactive wind slabs. These wind slabs may now be buried under 10-20 cm of low density snow which fell without much wind on Saturday. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50 cm of storm snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and surface hoar crystals that formed in locations sheltered from the wind. The new storm snow appears to have a poor bond to these surfaces in some areas, especially in the Dogtooth range. In wind exposed terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs. The weak layer appears to be increasing the reactivity of these wind slabs. In sheltered terrain, the recent storm snow has remained soft. As it continues to settle and become stiffer, we may start to see a more widespread persistent slab problem develop. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 70-140 cm down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest that the layer may still be reactive in some places, especially in shallow snowpack areas. There have not been any recent avalanches on this layer and it is generally considered dormant but tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial as it adapts to the new load of snow above it. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent flurries delivered 15-30 cm of low density powder, which now sits above hard wind slabs and settled storm snow from last week. A variable interface that formed during the mid-December cold snap can be found 50-80 cm deep. This interface consists of hard wind packed snow in exposed terrain, weak faceted (sugary) snow, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. This interface could evolve into a persistent slab problem once the storm snow settles into a slab. Deeper in the snowpack you may find another layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas or weak facets that were buried in early December. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and reports suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent flurries delivered 10-15 cm of low density powder. The fresh snow covers hard wind slabs from a storm last week. A variable interface that formed during the cold snap in early December can be found 20-40 cm under the new snow. This interface consists of hard wind packed snow in exposed terrain, weak</span><span class="s_6A269DDD"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">faceted (sugary) snow, and feathery surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. This interface will likely evolve into a lingering persistent slab problem as the recent storm snow settles into a slab. The snowpack is a generally weak and faceted below this interface, including another weak layer with surface hoar or facets that was buried in early December. Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowfall from Thursday and Friday deposited 5-20cm of new snow on the surface. Strong winds have continued to redistribute this snow in high elevation and wind exposed areas. Where it hasn't blown away, the new snow lies above a variety of hard surfaces that may include sastrugi, wind crust and hard wind slab. Strong to extreme winds formed these surfaces and caused significant wind redistribution of the underlying storm snow from earlier this week. This 30-50cm of storm snow overlies a variable snow surface from last week that includes either weak faceted snow or surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. The widespread mid-November crust is buried 1-2m deep in the snowpack. Recent snowpack and explosive tests have shown the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of 3-5mm surface hoar has grown on the surface in the Duffey Lake area. Below this, 10-20cm of new snow fell over Thursday and Friday. This new snow has been redistributed in some exposed areas and added to the 30-60cm of storm snow the region has seen since Sunday. In higher elevation and exposed areas, this storm snow formed wind slabs in response to southwest winds. The new snow and wind slabs overlie a variable snow surface from last week that includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or surface hoar. 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. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect 20-50 cm of fresh storm snow by Monday afternoon, with extreme winds forming extra deep pockets. The storm snow will bury a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), making wide propagations possible. A weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found buried about 1 metre deep. The layer consists of weak faceted (sugary) snow, and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. However, in areas with less snow, such as the northern parts of the region, there are also deeper layers of concern. These include a layer of surface hoar that was buried in mid-November and an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack that may have developed weak facets.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect 15-30 cm of fresh storm snow by Monday afternoon, with extreme winds forming extra deep pockets in the lee of ridgetops. The storm snow will likely bury a new layer of surface hoar that formed in sheltered areas, making wide propagations possible. A weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found buried about 50 cm deep. The layer consists of weak faceted (sugary) snow, and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The snow above this interface likely remains poorly bonded. The snowpack is still shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is likely in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is likely surrounded by sugary facets. Basal facets and depth hoar (more sugary crystals) right at the bottom of the snowpack are reportedly widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-70 cm of snow has accumulated over the last week and overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas. However, where a spotty layer of surface hoar has been preserved, the interface is still reactive to snowpack tests. In wind affected terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs. These wind slabs may now be buried under 10-20 cm of low density snow which fell without much wind on Saturday.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-80 cm of snow accumulated over the last week and overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas. However, where a spotty layer of surface hoar has been preserved, the interface may still be reactive. In wind affected terrain, the recent storm snow has been redistributed into reactive wind slabs. These wind slabs may now be buried under 10-20 cm of low density snow which fell without much wind on Saturday.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-15cm of new snow over Thursday and Friday may lie above a sun crust on solar aspects in some parts of the region. Where it exists and has been tested, this interface has produced easy sudden collapse results. The new snow brought storm snow totals to 30-60cm since snowfall began at the beginning of last week and loaded leeward features with wind slabs under moderate to strong winds. The storm snow buried old wind slabs, facets and surface hoar. The interface at this layer continues to produce easy to moderate results in snowpack tests. A widespread crust that was buried in November is now 80-100cm deep in the snowpack. Recent tests show variable results with this persistent weakness. Some show results as hard and resistant and others show a sudden character, suggesting it may be likely to propagate if triggered from thin, rocky areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15 -20cm of dense new snow lies on the surface and is reported to be well bonded to an underlying rain crust formed on December 20. A radiation crust formed on December 19 can be found roughly 25cm deep on solar aspects. These upper layers cap 40cm of well settled storm snow from last week's series of storms. The storm snow seems to have a good bond to the layers below, despite the surface hoar and faceted snow that can still be found here. These weaker snow grains have begun to show signs of rounding. An old rain crust buried on December 3 is reported to be down 150-180cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is well bonded to overlying snow and no stability concerns exist below this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On Tuesday, new snow and wind are forecast to form fresh wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain. 40-70 cm of snow now overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas. However, this layer is still reactive in some snowpack tests and should be investigated before pushing into steeper terrain. Limited observations from the North Columbia region suggest this layer may be especially touchy on the eastern side of the Selkirks. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Tuesday morning, I'd expect new wind slab formation in exposed higher elevation terrain. 30-50 cm of snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and surface hoar that formed in sheltered areas. The overlying slab appears to have a poor bond to these surfaces in some areas, especially in wind-affected terrain in the Dogtooth range and possibly Quartz Creek. In sheltered terrain, the overlying slab snow has remained soft. As it continues to settle and gain cohesion, we may start to see a more widespread persistent slab problem develop. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 70-140 cm down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest that the layer may still be reactive in some places, especially in shallow snowpack areas. There have not been any recent avalanches on this layer and it is generally considered dormant but tracking and monitoring this potentially weak interface is crucial as it adapts to the new load of snow above it. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect another 10 cm of new snow by Tuesday afternoon. A total of 20-30 cm of low density snow now sits above hard wind slabs, and will be redistributed by strong southwest winds. A variable interface that formed during the mid-December cold snap can be found 50-80 cm deep. This interface consists of hard wind packed snow in exposed terrain, weak faceted (sugary) snow, and surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered areas. This interface may evolve into a persistent slab problem once the storm snow settles into a slab. Deeper in the snowpack you may find another layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas or weak facets that were buried in early December. The thick crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and reports suggest that the crust is currently well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect another 5-15 cm of new snow by Tuesday afternoon. Strong west winds will redistributed low density snow and form touchy wind slabs in the lee of ridgetops. A variable interface that formed during the cold snap in early December can be found buried 30-50 cm deep. This interface consists of weak</span><span class="s_6A269DDD"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">faceted (sugary) snow and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The interface is likely most reactive in wind-affected terrain where it is covered by hard wind slabs. The snowpack is a generally weak and faceted below this interface, including another weak layer with surface hoar or facets that was buried in early December. Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow has begun to fall in the Seat to Sky mountains. This new snow is burying a variable surface that includes wind crust as well as surface hoar that has grown up to 20mm in some locations. Below the surface, 5-20cm of storm snow from Thursday and Friday has been mostly redistributed into wind slabs in high elevation and wind exposed areas. Where it hasn't blown away, this storm snow lies above a variety of hard surfaces that include sastrugi, wind crust and hard wind slab. Strong to extreme winds formed these surfaces and caused significant wind redistribution of the underlying storm snow from a series of storms that began on December 18. This 30-50cm of storm snow overlies a variable snow surface that formed prior to December 18 and includes either weak faceted snow or surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. The widespread mid-November crust is buried 1-2m deep in the snowpack. Reports have gained confidence in this crust being unreactive, but note that it could re-emerge as a problem with sufficient loading.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Incoming snowfall on Monday will bury a layer of 3-5mm surface hoar that has been observed growing on the surface in the Duffey Lake area. Below the surface, 10-20cm of storm snow from Thursday and Friday has been redistributed in some exposed areas and added to the 30-60cm of storm snow the region has seen since December 18. In higher elevation and exposed areas, this storm snow formed wind slabs in response to southwest winds. This upper snowpack overlies a variable snow surface that formed before December 18 and includes hard wind pressed or scoured areas, old wind slabs, weak faceted snow, or surface hoar. 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. Snowpack tests continue to show the crust to be unreactive, but it could remain a problem in shallow alpine start zones. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current storm is building touchy storm slabs throughout the region that may be up to 50 cm thick by Tuesday afternoon. Expect extra thick storm slabs in the lee of exposed ridges. The storm snow has buried a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), making wide propagations possible. A weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found buried about 1 metre deep. The layer consists of weak faceted (sugary) snow, and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. However, in areas with less snow, such as the northern parts of the region, there are also deeper layers of concern. These include a layer of surface hoar that was buried in mid-November and an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack that may have developed weak facets.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current storm is building touchy wind slabs throughout the region. With strong southwest winds expect extra thick wind slabs in the lee of exposed ridges. The storm snow has also buried a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), making wide propagations possible. A weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found about 50 cm deep underneath a hard wind slab. The layer consists of weak faceted (sugary) snow, and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The snowpack is still shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is likely in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is likely surrounded by sugary facets. Basal facets and depth hoar (more sugary crystals) right at the bottom of the snowpack are reportedly widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On Tuesday, new snow and wind are forecast to form fresh wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain. 40-75 cm of snow now overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas. However, this layer is still reactive in some snowpack tests and should be investigated before pushing into steeper terrain. Limited observations suggest this layer has been especially touchy on the eastern side of the Selkirks. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On Tuesday, new snow and wind are forecast to form fresh wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain. 50-80 cm of snow now overlies the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in some areas. However, a recent Mountain Information Network report from the Clearwater area suggests this layer may be reactive and worth investigating before pushing into steeper terrain. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Under 5cm of new snow fell overnight in the region. This has buried wind scoured surfaces in exposed areas and possible 2-5mm surface hoar in sheltered areas. Below this, 10-15cm of new snow over Thursday and Friday may lie above a sun crust on solar aspects in some parts of the region. Where it exists and has been tested, this interface has produced easy sudden collapse results. The new snow brought storm snow totals to 30-60cm since snowfall began at the beginning of last week and loaded leeward features with wind slabs under moderate to strong winds. The storm snow buried old wind slabs, facets and surface hoar. The interface at this layer continues to produce easy to moderate results in snowpack tests. A widespread crust that was buried in November is now 80-100cm deep in the snowpack. Recent tests show variable results with this persistent weakness. Some show results as hard and resistant and others show a sudden character, suggesting it may be likely to propagate if triggered from thin, rocky areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20cm of recent snow throughout the region. Below treeline this has helped the travel conditions slightly, but not enough to recommend valley bottom travel as a trip in itself. Treeline is where the difference is felt. Where the wind hasn't touched the snow, there is the new surface snow with little structure beneath it. Where the wind has gotten to it, there is a denser layer on top of the weak mid pack. It gives an &quot;upside down&quot; feel while skiing. This upside down snow doesn't pose an avalanche problem until open areas at treeline, where it has more of a slab character. There is a mix of surface slabs and buried slabs that all sit on the Dec 18th facet layer. The upper ranges of treeline and alpine elevations all remain variable with almost immediate transitions between soft snow and windslab. These &quot;laminated&quot; slabs are up to 60cm thick and are more common in wind prone areas and below cliffs. In many alpine areas the wind slabs can be extremely dense and may propagate further than expected.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">After 5cm of new snow over Sunday night, snow continues to fall on the South Coast mountains. The new snow has fallen on a variable surface that includes pockets of surface hoar and surface facets. Below this, 15 -20cm of dense storm snow overlies a rain crust formed on December 20. A radiation crust that formed on December 19 can be found roughly 30cm deep on solar aspects. These upper layers cap 40cm of well settled storm snow from the series of storms early last week. The storm snow seems to have a good bond to the layers below, where surface hoar and facets have begun to show signs of rounding. An old rain crust buried on December 3 is reported to be down 150-180cm in the North Shore mountains. This layer is well bonded to overlying snow and no stability concerns exist below this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Tuesday afternoon, between 25 and 65 cm of new low density snow had fallen with the highest accumulations occurring in the Monashees. In higher elevation terrain where the winds were stronger, I'd expect new wind slab formation on lee features. In areas sheltered from the wind, the new snow is mostly loose and unconsolidated. 50-90 cm below the surface you'll find the mid-December interface which consists of wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas. However, this layer is still reactive in some snowpack tests and should be investigated before pushing into steeper terrain. Limited observations from the North Columbia region suggest this layer may be especially touchy on the eastern side of the Selkirks. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 8-15cm of new snow has fallen in the past few days. Limited observations suggest there was little in the way of wind on Tuesday. However, strong winds forecast for Wednesday may redistribute the loose surface snow into new wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain. 20-50 cm of snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and surface hoar that formed in sheltered areas. The overlying slab appears to have a poor bond to these surfaces in some areas, especially in wind-affected terrain in the Dogtooth range and possibly Quartz Creek. In sheltered terrain, the overlying slab has remained soft. As it continues to settle and gain cohesion, we may start to see a more widespread persistent slab problem develop. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust/ facet layer typically sits 70-140 cm down in the snowpack. Recent avalanche activity in the Dogtooth Range suggests this layer has woken up and has the potential for large avalanches. Check out this ACMG Mountain Conditions Report for more info: https://mountainconditions.com/reports/december-25th-dogtooth-range-november-crust-awakening</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region received up to 50 cm of low density snow on Tuesday, which is now available to be redistributed by strong westerly winds. The new snow sits above a variety of surfaces including old hard wind slabs and surface hoar. The cold weather in early December left several layers of weak surface hoar and facets which are now buried 50-80 cm deep. These layers have been inactive for the past week, as it appears the lower snowpack is well-settled. A thick crust rain crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and remains well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">5-10 cm of fresh low density snow is being redistributed by strong winds and likely forming touchy wind slabs in the lee of ridgetops. A variable interface that formed during the cold snap in early December can be found buried 30-50 cm deep. This interface consists of weak</span><span class="s_6A269DDD"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">faceted (sugary) snow and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The interface is likely most reactive in wind-affected terrain where it is covered by hard wind slabs. The snowpack is a generally weak and faceted below this interface, including another weak layer with surface hoar or facets that was buried in early December. Below treeline, the snowpack is very shallow and early season hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-30 cm of new snow has accumulated since Monday. This new snow sits over a variable interface which consists of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. The surface hoar has been observed up to 20 mm in size in the Whistler area and it is reported to exist at and below treeline. Recently strong southerly winds have formed new wind slabs in leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of new snow has accumulated since Monday. This new snow sits over a variable interface which consists of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. The surface hoar has been observed up to 5 mm in size in the Duffey Lake area. A thin sun crust may also exist in the upper snowpack and was reported around Coquihalla area over the weekend. Recently strong southerly winds have formed new wind slabs in leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain.  The mid and lower snowpack are generally expected to be well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storms slabs are 50-80 cm thick throughout the region as of Tuesday afternoon, and will continue to grow with more snow in the forecast. Strong southwest winds will continue to form extra thick storm slabs in the lee of exposed ridges. The storm snow has buried a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), making wide propagations possible. A weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found in isolated areas buried 100-150 cm deep. The layer consists of preserved surface hoar or weak faceted (sugary) snow. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. In shallow snowpack areas, such as the northern part of the region, an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack has developed weak facets and may be possible to trigger.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate to strong winds are redistributing 10-30 cm of low density storm snow and forming touchy wind slabs in the lee of exposed ridges. The new snow has also buried a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), making wide propagations possible. A weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found about 40-60 cm deep underneath a hard wind slab. The layer consists of weak faceted (sugary) snow, and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The snowpack is still shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the lower snowpack is likely in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is likely surrounded by sugary facets. Basal facets and depth hoar (more sugary crystals) right at the bottom of the snowpack are reportedly widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 20 and 65 cm of new snow fell on Monday night with the highest accumulations occurring in the Monashees. In higher elevation terrain where the winds were stronger, these accumulations have likely been shifted into much deeper and potentially reactive wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the new snow is mostly loose and unconsolidated.</span><span class="s_1681A555"> 50</span><span class="s_3FE45715">-90cm below the surface you'll find the mid-December interface which consists of wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas. However, this layer is still reactive in some snowpack tests and should be investigated before pushing into steeper terrain. Limited observations suggest this layer has been especially touchy on the eastern side of the Selkirks. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Tuesday morning, up to 35 cm of new low density snow had fallen. In higher elevation terrain where the winds were stronger, I would expect new wind slab formation on lee and cross-loaded features. 60-90 cm below the surface you'll find the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in some areas. However, a few public and professional reports suggest this layer may be reactive in some areas and worth investigating before pushing into steeper terrain. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-40 cm of low density snow accumulated during the storm on Monday night. The new snow sits over wind scoured surfaces or old wind slabs in exposed terrain and surface hoar up to 5 mm in sheltered areas. In exposed terrain, strong southerly winds have redistributed the new snow and wind slabs exist in leeward terrain features. A freezing rain crust from last week is now down around 60 cm and reports suggest it is generally not creating an instability. The mid-December interface is now down 70-100 cm. While test results suggest it still may be reactive in isolated areas, the layer is generally considered dormant. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Most of the new snow we got over Christmas has now been moved around by the wind at all elevations. Below tree line, travel continues to be challenging due to the lack of snow. The big difference is happening at tree line where now wind slabs have been deposited on mostly  S to NE aspects overtop of the recent snow at Christmas. Widespread wind slabs can be expected in the Alpine from the previous and continued strong winds. All of these recent wind slabs sit overtop of a previous wind slab that formed before Christmas. Thicker surface wind slabs up to 50cm can be especially found in lee pockets and cross loaded areas or gullies.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">30-40 cm of new snow </span><span class="s_3FE45715">has accumulated since Monday. This new snow sits over a variable interface which consists of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recently strong southerly winds have formed new wind slabs in leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. A crust that formed a week ago is likely down around 50 cm and a recent MIN reports suggests the snow overlying the crust is not well bonded. Below this crust, the snowpack is generally considered well settled and stable. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 30 and 75cm of new low density snow has fallen over the region since Monday. The highest accumulations have occurred in the Monashees. Expect new wind slab formation on lee features in higher elevation terrain where the winds were stronger. In areas sheltered from the wind, the new snow is mostly loose and unconsolidated. 50-90 cm below the surface you'll find the mid-December interface which consists of wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas. However, this layer is still reactive in some snowpack tests and should be investigated before pushing into steeper terrain. Limited observations from the North Columbia region suggest this layer may be especially touchy on the eastern side of the Selkirks. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 15-20cm of new snow has fallen in the past few days. Moderate southwest winds have been redistribute the loose surface snow into new wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain. A highly variable 20-80 cm of snow typically overlies the mid-December interface which consists of stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and surface hoar that formed in sheltered areas. The overlying slab appears to have a poor bond to these surfaces in some areas, especially in wind-affected terrain in the Dogtooth range and possibly Quartz Creek. In sheltered terrain, the overlying slab has remained soft. As it continues to settle and gain cohesion, we may start to see a more widespread persistent slab problem develop. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust/ facet layer typically sits 70-140 cm down in the snowpack. Recent avalanche activity in the Dogtooth Range suggests this layer has woken up and has the potential for large avalanches. Check out this ACMG Mountain Conditions Report for more info: https://mountainconditions.com/reports/december-25th-dogtooth-range-november-crust-awakening</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Quite a lot (up to 50 cm) of recent low density snow has fallen, which is now available to be redistributed by mostly moderate southwesterly winds. The new snow sits above a variety of surfaces including old hard wind slabs and surface hoar. The cold weather in early December left several layers of weak surface hoar and facets which are now buried 50-80 cm deep. These layers have been inactive for the past week, as it appears the lower snowpack is well-settled. A thick crust rain crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and remains well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of fresh low density snow is being redistributed by southwesterly winds and forming wind slabs in the lee of ridgetops. In general, there is very little structure to the snowpack, with low density new snow sitting over soft, sugary facets. Travel is very challenging as a result. A variable interface that formed during the cold snap in early December can be found buried 30-50 cm deep. This interface consists of weak</span><span class="s_6A269DDD"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">faceted (sugary) snow and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The interface is likely most reactive in wind-affected terrain where it is covered by hard wind slabs. The snowpack is a generally weak and faceted below this interface, including another weak layer with surface hoar or facets that was buried in early December. Hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40 cm of new snow has accumulated since Monday. This new snow sits over a variable interface which consists of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the new snow is well bonded to this interface with exceptions for isolated areas where surface hoar may be preserved. Recently strong southerly winds have formed wind slabs in leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. The mid-December interface is now down 90-120 cm and is generally considered to be stable in most areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the Coquihalla area, around 50 cm of new snow has accumulated since Monday. In the Duffey Lake area, around 20 cm of new snow has accumulated since Monday. This new snow sits over a variable interface which consists of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. The surface hoar has been observed up to 5 mm in size in the Duffey Lake area. A thin sun crust may also exist in the upper snowpack and was reported around Coquihalla area over the weekend. Recently strong southerly winds have formed new wind slabs in leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. The mid and lower snowpack are generally expected to be well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have deposited 50-80 cm new snow combined with strong, mainly southwest winds. Expect touchy wind slabs to have formed in the lee of exposed ridges. The storm snow has buried a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), making wide propagations possible. A weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found in isolated areas buried 100-150 cm deep. The layer consists of preserved surface hoar or weak faceted (sugary) snow. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. In shallow snowpack areas, such as the northern part of the region, an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack has developed weak facets and might be triggerable from a thin or rocky area on a convex slope.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate to strong winds continue to redistribute the 10-30 cm of low density storm snow, forming touchy wind slabs in the lee of exposed ridges. The new snow has also buried a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), making wide propagations possible. There is another weak layer that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. However, the layer that was responsible for most of the large avalanches during the big storm just before Christmas was the mid-November rain crust. This lies close to the bottom of the snowpack and is associated with sugary facets. Because of the low snow depths (around 1 m), this layer remains very much a concern in this region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 30 and 80 cm of new snow has fallen since Monday night with the highest accumulations occurring in the Monashees. In higher elevation terrain where the winds were stronger, these accumulations have likely been shifted into much deeper and potentially reactive wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the new snow is mostly loose and unconsolidated.</span><span class="s_1681A555"> 50-100cm </span><span class="s_3FE45715">below the surface you'll find the mid-December interface which consists of wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas. However, this layer is still reactive in some snowpack tests and should be investigated before pushing into steeper terrain. Limited observations suggest this layer has been especially touchy on the eastern side of the Selkirks. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 45 cm of new low density snow has fallen since Monday. In higher elevation terrain where the winds were stronger, I would expect new wind slab formation on lee and cross-loaded features. 65-100 cm below the surface you'll find the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in some areas. However, a few public and professional reports suggest this layer may be reactive in some areas and worth investigating before pushing into steeper terrain. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. Recent test results on this layer suggest it is generally well bonded to the adjacent snow with the possible exception of shallow snowpack areas. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50 cm of low density snow has accumulated since Monday. The new snow sits over wind scoured surfaces or old wind slabs in exposed terrain and surface hoar up to 5 mm in sheltered areas. In exposed terrain, strong southerly winds have redistributed the new snow and wind slabs exist in leeward terrain features. A freezing rain crust from last week is now down around 60 cm and reports suggest it is generally not creating an instability in the snowpack. The mid-December interface is now down 70-100 cm. While the layer has recently been considered dormant in region, a skier triggered avalanche on Tuesday was reported to have occurred on this interface in the Rossland area. It will be important to continue to watch how this layer reacts in coming days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The steady winds that we've been experiencing lately are significantly changing our snowpack. Windslabs are the current problem at the forefront of our minds. We are starting to see them even below treeline, however they are of little concern as there is still very little snow at valley bottom. Open areas at treeline is where the slabs start to become a legitimate concern. At the moment, the slabs as a whole are up 40cm thick. This thick layer is actually made up a series of laminated slabs from various wind events. These slabs are sitting on a delicate layer of facets that were buried on Deb 18th. This facet layer is widespread and will likely last for weeks to come. Snow depth at treeline was 125cm today. The alpine has a similar condition in terms of windslabs and weak layers underneath. We are finding the Dec 18th facets alive and well in most areas. In thinner snowpack areas, these facets are more pronounced and have turned into depth hoar. The snow coverage is variable with dramatic transitions. It will go from gravel to a meter deep snowpack in only a few steps. Wind loaded areas will have a surprising amount of snow in them. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">30-50 cm of new snow </span><span class="s_3FE45715">has accumulated since Monday. This new snow sits over a variable interface which consisted of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent reports suggest this storm snow is now well bonded except places where surface hoar may be preserved. Recently strong southerly winds have formed new wind slabs in leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. A crust that formed a week ago is likely down around 50-70 cm. Below this crust, the snowpack is generally considered well settled and stable. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 35 and 70cm of new low density snow has fallen over the region since Monday. The highest accumulations have occurred in the Monashees. Observations suggest wind slab formation in the new snow has been less than expected, but wind slab can still be found on lee features in higher elevation terrain where the winds were stronger. In areas sheltered from the wind, the new snow is mostly loose and unconsolidated. 50-100 cm below the surface you'll find the mid-December interface which consists of wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to this interface in most areas. However, this layer is still reactive in some snowpack tests and should be investigated before pushing into steeper terrain. Limited observations from the North Columbia region suggest this layer may be especially touchy on the eastern side of the Selkirks. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 15-20cm of new snow has fallen in the past few days. Moderate southwest winds have been redistributing the loose surface snow into new wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain. A highly variable 20-80 cm of snow overlies the mid-December interface which consists of stiff wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and surface hoar that formed in sheltered areas. The overlying slab appears to have a poor bond to these surfaces in some areas, especially in wind-affected terrain in the Dogtooth range and possibly Quartz Creek. In sheltered terrain, the overlying slab has remained soft. As it continues to settle and gain cohesion, we may start to see a more widespread persistent slab problem develop. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The thick mid-November crust/ facet layer typically sits 70-140 cm down in the snowpack. Recent avalanche activity in the Dogtooth Range suggests this layer has woken up and has the potential for large avalanches. Check out this ACMG Mountain Conditions Report for more info: https://mountainconditions.com/reports/december-25th-dogtooth-range-november-crust-awakening</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Quite a lot (up to 50 cm) of recent low density snow has fallen, which is now available to be redistributed by mostly moderate southwesterly winds. The new snow sits above a variety of surfaces including old hard wind slabs and surface hoar. The cold weather in early December left several layers of weak surface hoar and facets which are now buried 50-80 cm deep. These layers have been inactive for the past week, as it appears the lower snowpack is well-settled. A thick crust rain crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and remains well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of fresh low density snow has been redistributed by mainly southwesterly winds and forming wind slabs in the lee of ridgetops. In general, there is very little structure to the snowpack, with low density new snow sitting over soft, sugary facets. Travel is very challenging as a result. A variable interface that formed during the cold snap in early December can be found buried 30-50 cm deep. This interface consists of weak</span><span class="s_6A269DDD"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">faceted (sugary) snow and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The interface is likely most reactive in wind-affected terrain where it is covered by hard wind slabs. The snowpack is a generally weak and faceted below this interface, including another weak layer with surface hoar or facets that was buried in early December. Hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 50 cm of new low density snow is expected to accumulate by the end of the storm on Thursday. This brings the total storm snow amounts since Monday to 70-100 cm. Below the new snow from this week lies the Boxing Day interface which consisted of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is well bonded to this interface with exceptions for isolated areas where surface hoar may be preserved. Ongoing strong southerly winds during the storm have been loading leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. The mid-December interface is now down 100-150 cm and is generally considered to be stable in most areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-30 cm of new low density snow is expected to accumulate by the end of the storm on Thursday. This brings the total storm snow amounts since Monday to 50-80 cm. Below the new snow from this week lies the Boxing Day interface which consisted of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. The surface hoar has been observed up to 5 mm in size in the Duffey Lake area. A thin crust may also exist in the upper snowpack and was reported around Coquihalla area last weekend.&nbsp; Ongoing strong southerly winds during the storm have been loading leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. The mid-December interface is now down around 80 cm in the Duffey and over 1 m in the Coquihalla. The mid and lower snowpack are generally expected to be well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have deposited 50-80 cm new snow combined with strong, mainly southwest winds. The storm snow has buried a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), making wide propagations possible. Recent reports from Shames indicate the slab properties overlying this layer of surface hoar are supporting easily triggered avalanches, including avalanches running in low angled terrain. An earlier (and therefore deeper) weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found in isolated areas buried 100-150 cm deep. The layer consists of preserved surface hoar or weak faceted (sugary) snow. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. In shallow snowpack areas, especially north of Ningunsaw, an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack has developed weak facets and might be triggerable from a thin or rocky area on a convex slope.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowpack depths in this region are still shallow - around 1 m or so, meaning there are a lot of weak sugary facets in the snowpack at this time. Recent storm snow has been redistributed by the wind, and wind slabs are widespread behind exposed ridges. Where hard wind slabs overlie weak facets, the structure is ripe for human-triggered avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In addition to the sugary facets, you may find a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), buried around 15-25 cm below the surface. There is another weak layer that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be found close to the bottom of the snowpack nestled in amongst the facets. We don't have a lot of information about these layers, but it's worth noting the layer responsible for most of the large avalanches during the big storm just before Christmas was the mid-November rain crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 35 and 75 cm of new snow has fallen over the region since Monday. The highest accumulations have occurred in the Monashees. Low density snow has allowed for quick settlement of new snow in sheltered areas, where new snow has begun to take on soft slab character. Other areas exposed to moderate to strong winds have experienced wind slab development. 80-120cm below the surface you'll find the mid-December interface, which consists of wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas. However, this layer is still reactive in some snowpack tests and should be investigated before pushing into steeper terrain. Limited observations suggest this layer has been especially touchy on the eastern side of the Selkirks. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 35cm new snow lies on the surface after this week's series of storms. In higher elevation terrain, moderate to strong winds have promoted slab formation on lee and cross-loaded features. In sheltered areas and lower elevations, the low density snow has only just begun to show signs of consolidation into soft slab. 65-100cm below the surface you'll find the mid-December interface which consists of a variety of old snow surfaces including wind affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, and/or surface hoar crystals. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in some areas. However, a few public and professional reports suggest this layer may be reactive in some areas and worth investigating before pushing into steeper terrain. The thick mid-November crust layer typically sits 1-2 m down in the snowpack. This layer is considered dormant at this time but remains an isolated concern that we will likely be tracking through much of the season.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of snow has accumulated since Monday. The new snow sits over a variable interface which may consist of wind scoured surfaces or old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 5 mm in sheltered areas and/or a freezing rain crust. Recent test results suggest the layer is gaining strength but may still be reactive in isolated areas. In exposed terrain, strong southerly winds have redistributed the new snow and wind slabs exist in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December interface is now down 40-100 cm. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region but has recently been reactive in the mountains west of Trail and Castlegar where the interface is down around 40 cm. It appears that preserved surface hoar is creating an isolated problems for this area and three skier trigger avalanches have released on this layer since Monday. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A few cms of snow fell throughout the day on Thursday but not enough to change the current danger level or improve the lower elevations.  In the Alpine and at treeline most open areas are wind affected.  These windslabs are overlying the dec 18th facet layer down 20-30cm.  Easy failures have been noted on this interface indicating that it is ripe for a human trigger.  Watch for &quot;drummy&quot; sounds and shooting cracks.  These are all positive indicators that you are moving into more skier triggerable areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Storm totals on Thursday are expected to reach around 50 cm in the wettest parts of the region. This brings the total storm snow amounts since Monday to around 100 cm in the North Shore mountains. Reports on Thursday suggest the storm snow from the beginning of the week is well bonded and stable, and the new avalanche activity has been isolated to snow that fell on Thursday. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Ongoing strong southerly winds during the storm have been loading in leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. A crust that formed a week ago is likely down over 1 m. Below this crust, the snowpack is generally considered well settled and stable. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 50 and 90 cm of new low density snow has fallen over the past week, with the greatest accumulations in the Monashees. Shifting winds with moderate speeds are forming touchy storm slabs in exposed high elevation terrain. The mid-December interface can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and consists of faceted (sugary) crystals or surface hoar. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region, but has been reactive in snowpack tests in the southeast part of the region where a slab overlies preserved surface hoar. The lower snowpack is well consolidated and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another 20 cm of low density snow fell on Thursday, bringing new snow totals from the past week up to 40-60 cm. Shifting winds with moderate speeds are forming wind slabs in exposed high elevation terrain. An interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found buried 40-80 cm deep. The interface may consist of stiff wind-affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, or feathery surface hoar crystals. The overlying slab appears to have a poor bond to these surfaces in some areas, especially in wind-affected terrain in the Dogtooth range and possibly Quartz Creek. The thick mid-November crust and facet layer is now buried 70-150 cm deep and appears to be dormant, as the last reported avalanche activity on this layer was before Christmas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 50 cm of low density snow has recently fallen, which is now available to be redistributed by mostly moderate westerly winds. The new snow sits above a variety of surfaces including old hard wind slabs and surface hoar. The cold weather in early December left several layers of weak surface hoar and facets which are now buried 50-80 cm deep. These layers are expected to be more in reactive in areas where the overlying slab has gained cohesion with wind or settlement. A thick crust rain crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and remains well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of fresh low density snow has been redistributed by mainly southwesterly winds forming wind slabs in the lee of ridgetops. In general, there is very little structure to the snowpack, with low density new snow sitting over soft, sugary facets. Travel is very challenging as a result. A variable interface that formed during the cold snap in early December can be found buried 30-50 cm deep. This interface consists of weak</span><span class="s_6A269DDD"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">faceted (sugary) snow and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The interface is likely most reactive in wind-affected terrain where it is covered by hard wind slabs. The snowpack is a generally weak and faceted below this interface, including another weak layer with surface hoar or facets that was buried in early December. Hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between Monday and Friday, 70-100 cm of storm snow accumulated in the region.  Below the new snow from this week lies the Boxing Day interface which consisted of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is generally well bonded to this interface. Recent weaknesses in the snowpack have been isolated to storm snow interfaces.&nbsp; Recent strong winds have been from a variety of directions and have been loading leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. The mid-December interface is now down 100-150 cm and is generally considered to be stable in the region. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25-45 cm of low density snow accumulated during the storm on Thursday. This brings the total storm snow amounts since Monday to 60-80 cm. Below the new snow from this week lies the Boxing Day interface which consisted of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. The surface hoar has been observed up to 5 mm in size in the Duffey Lake area. A thin crust may also exist in the upper snowpack and was reported around Coquihalla area last weekend. Recent strong winds have been from a variety of directions and have been loading leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. The mid-December interface is now down over 1 m and is generally considered to be stable in the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have deposited 50-80 cm new snow combined with strong, mainly southwest winds. The storm snow has buried a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), making wide propagations possible. Recent reports from Shames indicate the slab properties overlying this layer of surface hoar are supporting easily triggered avalanches, including avalanches running in low angled terrain. An earlier (and therefore deeper) weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found in isolated areas buried 100-150 cm deep. The layer consists of preserved surface hoar or weak faceted (sugary) snow. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. In shallow snowpack areas, especially north of Ningunsaw, an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack has developed weak facets and might be triggerable from a thin or rocky area on a convex slope.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowpack depths in this region are still shallow - around 1 m or so, meaning there are a lot of weak sugary facets in the snowpack at this time. Recent storm snow has been redistributed by the wind, and wind slabs are widespread behind exposed ridges. Where hard wind slabs overlie weak facets, the structure is ripe for human-triggered avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In addition to the sugary facets, you may find a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), buried around 15-25 cm below the surface. There is another weak layer that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be found close to the bottom of the snowpack nestled in amongst the facets. We don't have a lot of information about these layers, but it's worth noting the layer responsible for most of the large avalanches during the big storm just before Christmas was the mid-November rain crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 50 and 100 cm of new low density snow has fallen over the past week, with the greatest accumulations in the Monashees. Shifting winds with moderate speeds are forming touchy storm slabs in exposed high elevation terrain. The mid-December interface can be found buried 80-120 cm deep and consists of faceted (sugary) crystals and/or surface hoar. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is well bonded to the interface in most areas, but remains a concern in thin snowpack areas such as the eastern and northern parts of the region. The lower snowpack is well consolidated and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 30 and 60 cm of new low density snow has fallen over the past week. In higher elevation terrain, moderate to strong winds have promoted slab formation on lee and cross-loaded features. In sheltered areas and lower elevations, the low density snow has only just begun to show signs of consolidation into soft slab. A mid-December interface can be found buried 65-100 cm deep and consists of faceted (sugary) crystals and/or surface hoar. Recent tests suggest the the new snow is generally well bonded to this interface in most areas, but since the layer has still been reactive in some snowpack tests it should be investigated before pushing into steeper terrain. The lower snowpack is well consolidated and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of snow has accumulated since Monday. The new snow sits over a variable interface which may consist of wind scoured surfaces or old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 5 mm in sheltered areas and/or a freezing rain crust. Recent test results suggest the layer is gaining strength but may still be reactive in isolated areas. Recent strong winds have been from a variety of directions and have been loading leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December interface is now down 40-100 cm. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region but has recently been reactive in the mountains west of Trail and Castlegar where the interface is down around 40 cm. It appears that preserved surface hoar is creating an isolated problems for this area and three skier trigger avalanches have released on this layer between Monday and Wednesday. On Thursday, the interface was also reported to be reactive to snowpack tests in the Valhallas and the mountains north of Nelson. It will be important to continue to track how this layer evolves during the upcoming period of high pressure.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm's of new snow fell last night. At treeline, the windslabs are now buried and somewhat disguised under the unsettled, new snow. Little wind today has done almost nothing for fresh storm slab development. The Dec 18 facet layer is now down 50cm on average. In the alpine, similar conditions exist due to the lack of significant wind. The only exception is in windward areas (westerly aspects) that saw intense wind scouring earlier in the week. Expect isolated(immediate lee) storm slabs and extensive windslabs on N to S aspects. The new snow is still low density with little cohesion.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 50 cm of new snow accumulated from Thursday's storm. This brings the total storm snow amounts since Monday to around 100 cm in the North Shore mountains. Reports on Thursday suggest the storm snow from the beginning of the week is well bonded and stable, and the new avalanche activity has been isolated to snow that fell on Thursday. This new snow is expected quickly gain strength and stabilize going into the weekend. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent strong winds have been from a variety of directions and have been loading leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain.  A crust that formed a week ago is likely down over 1 m. Below this crust, the snowpack is generally considered well settled and stable. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 50 and 90 cm of new low density snow has fallen over the past week, with the greatest accumulations in the Monashees. Shifting winds with moderate speeds are forming touchy storm slabs in exposed high elevation terrain. The mid-December interface can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and consists of faceted (sugary) crystals or surface hoar. There remains to be some uncertainty on the distribution and reactivity of this layer. Some recent patterns suggest the layer may be more reactive in shallow snowpack areas, steep south facing slopes, and in the southeast part of the region where it is composed of preserved surface hoar. The lower snowpack is well consolidated and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region received a total of 40-60 cm of low density snow over the past week. Recent winds have come from a variety of directions and have loaded leeward and cross loaded features in exposed terrain. An interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found buried 40-80 cm deep. The interface may consist of stiff wind-affected snow, faceted (sugary) crystals, or surface hoar crystals. The overlying slab appears to have a poor bond to the interface in some areas, such as wind-affected terrain in the Dogtooth range and shallow snowpack areas like the southern Purcells. The thick mid-November crust and facet layer is now buried 70-150 cm deep and appears to be dormant.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On Saturday night 5 to 15cm of new snow is expected to fall. On Sunday, northerly winds are expected to howl and the new snow is expected to get shifted into new wind slabs. The new snow will overlie about 50cm of storm snow from last week which sits above old hard wind slabs and spotty surface hoar. The cold weather in early December left several layers of weak surface hoar and facets which are now buried 60-80 cm deep. These layers may be more in reactive in areas where the overlying slab has gained cohesion with wind or settlement. A thick crust rain crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and remains well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20cm of new snow may fall on Saturday night. Extreme northeast wind are expected to redistribute these accumulations into wind slabs in exposed lee terrain. The new snow will overlie previously formed wind slabs which developed on Friday night and Saturday. In general, there is very little structure to the snowpack, with low-density snow sitting over soft sugary facets. Travel is very challenging as a result. A variable interface that formed during the cold snap in early December can be found buried 30-50 cm deep. This interface consists of weak</span><span class="s_6A269DDD"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">faceted (sugary) snow and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The interface is likely most reactive in wind-affected terrain where it is covered by hard wind slabs. The snowpack is a generally weak and faceted below this interface, including another weak layer with surface hoar or facets that was buried in early December. Hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a major concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between Monday and Friday, 70-100 cm of storm snow accumulated in the region. Below the new snow from this week lies the Boxing Day interface which consisted of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is generally well bonded to this interface. Recent weaknesses in the snowpack have been isolated to storm snow interfaces. Recent strong winds have been from a variety of directions and have been loading leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. The mid-December interface is now down 100-150 cm and is generally considered to be stable in this region. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In total, between 60 and 90 cm new snow fell last week. The new snow is reported to be generally bonding well. Below the new snow lies the Boxing Day interface which, when buried, consisted of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. The surface hoar has been observed up to 5 mm in size in the Duffey Lake area. A thin crust may also exist in the upper snowpack and was reported around Coquihalla area last weekend. Recent strong winds have been from a variety of directions and have been loading leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. The mid-December interface is now down over 1 m and is generally considered to be stable in the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have deposited 50-80 cm new snow combined with strong winds. The storm snow overlies a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas) which was buried on December 25, making wide propagations possible. Recent reports from Shames indicate the slab properties overlying this layer of surface hoar are supporting easily triggered avalanches, including avalanches running in low angled terrain. An earlier (and therefore deeper) weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found in isolated areas buried 100-150 cm deep. The layer consists of preserved surface hoar or weak faceted (sugary) snow. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. In shallow snowpack areas, especially north of Ningunsaw, an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack has developed weak facets and might be triggerable from a thin or rocky area on a convex slope.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowpack depths in this region are still shallow - around 1 m or so, meaning there are a lot of weak sugary facets in the snowpack at this time. Recent storm snow has been redistributed by strong to extreme winds, and wind slabs are widespread behind exposed features. Where hard wind slabs overlie weak facets, the structure is ripe for human-triggered avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In addition to the sugary facets, you may find a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), buried around 15-25 cm below the surface. There is another weak layer that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be found close to the bottom of the snowpack nestled in amongst the facets. We don't have a lot of information about these layers, but it's worth noting the layer responsible for most of the large avalanches during the big storm just before Christmas was the mid-November rain crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 50 and 100 cm of new low density snow has fallen over the past week, with the greatest accumulations in the Monashees. Shifting winds with moderate speeds are forming touchy storm slabs in exposed high elevation terrain. The mid-December interface can be found buried 80-120 cm deep and consists of faceted (sugary) crystals and/or surface hoar. There remains to be some uncertainty on the distribution and reactivity of this layer. Some recent patterns suggest the layer may be more reactive on steep south facing slopes and in areas with thinner snowpacks such as the eastern and northern parts of the region. The lower snowpack is well consolidated and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 40 and 80 cm of new low density snow has fallen over the past week. Shifting winds are creating fresh and touchy wind slabs on a variety of aspects in exposed high elevation terrain. A mid-December interface can be found buried 50-100 cm deep and consists of faceted (sugary) crystals and/or surface hoar. The slab above this layer has recently been reactive to skier triggers in thin snowpack areas throughout the region. The layer is less of a concern in deep snowpack areas, but still deserves some investigation before pushing into steeper terrain. The lower snowpack is well consolidated and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of snow has accumulated since Monday. The new snow sits over a variable interface which may consist of wind scoured surfaces or old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 5 mm in sheltered areas and/or a freezing rain crust. Recent test results suggest the layer is gaining strength but may still be reactive in isolated areas. Recent strong winds have been from a variety of directions and have been loading leeward and cross loaded features in wind exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December interface is now down 40-100 cm. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region but has recently been reactive in the mountains west of Trail and Castlegar where the interface is down around 40 cm. It appears that preserved surface hoar is creating an isolated problems for this area and three skier trigger avalanches have released on this layer between Monday and Wednesday. On Thursday, the interface was also reported to be reactive to snowpack tests in the Valhallas and the mountains north of Nelson. It will be important to continue to track how this layer evolves during the upcoming period of high pressure.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent strong winds have formed wind slabs in the Alpine and in open areas at Treeline and below. These slabs are highly variable in thickness, density and distribution. Snowpack tests indicate a layer of concern down 35cm. This interface was giving moderate compression tests today on a North aspect at 2400m. In addition, the November crust layer is now producing moderate to hard shears down 50 to 90cm in the snowpack. At lower elevations the snowpack is very weak with occasional ski penetration to ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Light amounts from the storm Saturday night add to previous storm totals of around 100 cm in the North Shore mountains. The storm snow is reported to have bonded well with the underlying snow, and is now generally stable, although wind slabs on steep slopes in exposed areas remain a concern. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust that formed a week ago is likely down over 1 m, but recent avalanches were not reported to have run on the crust layer. Below this crust, the snowpack is generally considered well settled and stable. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region received 50 to 90 cm of new snow between Christmas and New Years. This snow has been redistributed by strong winds that have come from a variety of directions and loaded leeward and cross-loaded features. Sunny skies will promote settlement of the snow on open south-facing slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar interface can be found buried 70-120 cm deep, and has been showing signs of gaining strength recently with little to no recent avalanche activity in the region. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region received 40-60 cm of new snow between Christmas and New Years. This snow has been redistributed by strong winds that have come from a variety of directions and loaded leeward and cross-loaded features. Sunny skies will promote settlement of the snow on open south-facing slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar interface can be found buried 40-80 cm deep. This layer has shown signs of being poorly bonded to the overlying slab in snowpack tests, and has produced intermittent avalanche activity in shallow snowpack areas. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground that appears to be dormant.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 10 cm of snow was added to the snowpack Saturday night and Sunday. That means around 60cm of storm snow from last week sits above old hard wind slabs and spotty surface hoar. The cold weather in early December left several layers of weak surface hoar and facets buried 60-80 cm deep. These layers are more reactive in areas where the overlying slab gained cohesion with wind or settlement. A thick crust rain crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and remains well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20cm fell Saturday night and Sunday. Moderate to strong NE winds drifted the snow into soft slabs. In general, there is very little structure to the snowpack, with low-density snow sitting over soft sugary facets. Travel is very challenging as a result. A variable interface that formed during the cold snap in early December can be found buried 30-50 cm deep. This interface consists of weak faceted (sugary) snow and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The interface is likely most reactive in wind-affected terrain where it is covered by a more cohesive wind slab. Hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The critical part of snowpack analysis under current conditions is figuring out how the wind is redistributing snow into wind slabs. Extreme northerly winds have been reported, which will be &quot;reverse loading&quot; wind onto slopes that were previously scoured. I suspect the cold will temper the reactivity of wind slabs on moderate slopes; however, on steep, aggressive terrain, particularly on south-facing slopes in the sun, wind slabs will definitely be in play. Between Monday and Friday last week, 70-100 cm of storm snow accumulated in the region. Below the new snow from this week lies the Boxing Day interface which consisted of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is generally well bonded to this interface. The mid-December interface is now down 100-150 cm and is generally considered to be stable in this region. Snowpack layers below this are well bonded.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The critical parts of the snowpack under current conditions are wind slabs in exposed areas, and, for low snow areas such as the Chilcotins, a layer of faceted snow from mid-December that in those areas is buried under about 50 cm of snow. Most parts of the region saw 60-90 cm new snow last week, which is reported to be generally bonding well. A facet/surface hoar layer was buried on Boxing Day (surface hoar up to 5 mm was observed in the Duffey Lake area), but does not seem to have turned into a major concern. The mid-December interface is now down over 1 m in most parts and is generally considered to be stable, except in shallow snowpack areas as mentioned above, where snowpack tests indicate it could still be a viable failure plane.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent storms deposited 50-80 cm of snow combined with strong winds, most recently from the north. The storm snow overlies a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas) buried on December 25, making wide propagations possible. Ongoing reports indicate this combination of layers is susceptible to easily triggered avalanches, including avalanches running in low angled terrain. An earlier (and therefore deeper) weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found in isolated areas buried 100-150 cm deep. The layer consists of preserved surface hoar or weak faceted (sugary) snow. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. In shallow snowpack areas, especially north of Ningunsaw, an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack has developed weak facets and might be triggerable from a thin or rocky area on a convex slope.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snowpack depths in this region are still shallow - around 1 m or so, meaning there are a lot of weak sugary facets in the snowpack. Recent storm snow is being redistributed by strong to extreme winds, and wind slabs are widespread behind exposed features. Where hard wind slabs overlie weak facets, the structure is ripe for human-triggered avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In addition to the sugary facets, you may find a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), buried around 20 - 30 cm below the surface. There is another weak layer that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be found close to the bottom of the snowpack nestled in amongst the facets. We don't have a lot of information about these layers, but it's worth noting the layer responsible for most of the large avalanches during the big storm just before Christmas was the mid-November rain crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region received 50 to 100 cm of new snow between Christmas and New Years. This snow has been redistributed by strong winds that have come from a variety of directions and loaded leeward and cross-loaded features. Sunny skies this week will promote settlement of the snow on open south-facing slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar interface can be found buried 80-120 cm deep, and has been showing signs of gaining strength recently with little to no recent avalanche activity in the region. The layer may still be reactive in isolated areas such as steep south-facing slopes and thin snowpack areas in the northern and eastern parts of the region. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong northerly winds have formed thick and touchy wind slabs on leeward and cross-loaded features at all elevations. The 40 to 80 cm of new snow the region received between Christmas and New Years has been wind affected and will settle into a slab on south-facing slopes when the sun comes out on Monday. The mid-December facet/surface hoar interface can be found buried 50-100 cm deep. The interface has been showing signs of gaining strength in thick snowpack areas, but remains a concern in thin snowpack areas throughout the region. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This region saw 30-60 cm new snow during last week's storms. The new snow sits over a weak layer buried on Boxing day that was initially reactive but now appears to have gained strength. Recent winds switched from mainly southwesterly to northerly, &quot;reverse loading&quot; areas that were previously scoured. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Slightly lower in the snowpack is an interface buried mid-December, now down 40-100 cm. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region but was reactive for a while last week west of Trail and Castlegar where preserved surface hoar was thought to be responsible for four small (but surprising) skier trigger avalanches. It will be important to continue to monitor this layer for further signs of reactivity.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_DDF6C5E8">10-20cm snow has fallen in the eastern region from an upslope storm but only 3-5cm along the divide area. Our first main concern continues to be failures on the November crust down 40-60cm in open wind affected areas. This November crust seems to be more reactive in snowpack tests over the past few days. Our second concern is the persistent slab that is now buried under this new snow reacting to the faceted layer down about 35-50cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Right now, the most important part of the snowpack analysis is figuring out how the wind is redistributing snow into wind slabs. New wind slabs are most likely to be found on south to east aspects behind exposed terrain features, and could be touchy, especially on steep unsupported terrain. The previous metre or so of storm snow has bonded well to the underlying snow. A thin freezing rain crust buried under 10 cm of new snow was reported from the North Shore mountains, but I suspect the only impact this will have will be on skiing quality. Wind slabs aside, the snowpack is otherwise considered to be well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds on Sunday had an extensive effect in exposed terrain at all elevations. Expect scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Sunny weather is likely making the wind slabs extra touchy on south-facing slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar layer can be found buried 70-120 cm deep, and has been showing signs of gaining strength recently with little to no recent avalanche activity in the region. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds on Sunday had an extensive effect in exposed terrain at all elevations. Expect scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Sunny weather is likely making the wind slabs extra touchy on south-facing slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar layer can be found buried 40-80 cm deep. This layer has shown signs of being poorly bonded to the overlying slab in snowpack tests, and has produced intermittent avalanche activity in shallow snowpack areas. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground that appears to be dormant.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 10 cm of snow was added to the snowpack Saturday night and Sunday. That means around 60cm of storm snow from last week sits above old hard wind slabs and spotty surface hoar. The cold weather in early December left several layers of weak surface hoar and facets buried 60-80 cm deep. These layers are more reactive in areas where the overlying slab gained cohesion with wind or settlement. A thick rain crust from mid-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and remains well bonded to the surrounding snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20cm of new arrived Saturday night and Sunday. Moderate to strong NE winds drifted the snow into soft slabs. In general, there is very little structure to the snowpack, with low-density snow sitting over soft sugary facets. Travel is very challenging as a result. A variable interface that formed during the cold snap in early December can be found buried 30-50 cm deep. This interface consists of weak faceted (sugary) snow and preserved surface hoar in sheltered areas. The interface is likely most reactive in wind-affected terrain where it is covered by a more cohesive wind slab. Hazards such as stumps, rocks, and open creeks are still a concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The critical part of snowpack analysis under current conditions is figuring out how the wind is redistributing snow into wind slabs. Extreme northerly winds have been reported, which will be &quot;reverse loading&quot; wind onto slopes that were previously scoured. I suspect the cold will temper the reactivity of wind slabs on moderate slopes; however, on steep, aggressive terrain, particularly on south-facing slopes in the sun, wind slabs will definitely be in play. Between Monday and Friday last week, 70-100 cm of storm snow accumulated in the region. Below the new snow from this week lies the Boxing Day interface which consisted of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is generally well bonded to this interface. The mid-December interface is now down 100-150 cm and is generally considered to be stable in this region. Snowpack layers below this are well bonded.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The critical parts of the snowpack under current conditions are wind slabs in exposed areas, and, for low snow areas such as the Chilcotins, a layer of faceted snow from mid-December that in those areas is buried under about 50 cm of snow. Most parts of the region saw 60-90 cm new snow last week, which is reported to be generally bonding well. A facet/surface hoar layer was buried on Boxing Day (surface hoar up to 5 mm was observed in the Duffey Lake area), but does not seem to have turned into a major concern. The mid-December interface is now down over 1 m in most parts and is generally considered to be stable, except in shallow snowpack areas as mentioned above, where snowpack tests indicate it could still be a viable failure plane.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent storms deposited 50-80 cm of snow combined with strong winds, most recently from the north. The storm snow overlies a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas) buried on December 25, making wide propagations possible. Ongoing reports indicate this combination of layers is susceptible to easily triggered avalanches, including avalanches running in low angled terrain. An earlier (and therefore deeper) weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found in isolated areas buried 100-150 cm deep. The layer consists of preserved surface hoar or weak faceted (sugary) snow. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. In shallow snowpack areas, especially north of Ningunsaw, an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack has developed weak facets and might be triggerable from a thin or rocky area on a convex slope.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snowpack depths in this region are still shallow - around 1 m or so, meaning there are a lot of weak sugary facets in the snowpack. Recent storm snow is being redistributed by strong to extreme winds, and wind slabs are widespread behind exposed features. Where hard wind slabs overlie weak facets, the structure is ripe for human-triggered avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In addition to the sugary facets, you may find a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), buried around 20 - 30 cm below the surface. There is another weak layer that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be found close to the bottom of the snowpack nestled in amongst the facets. We don't have a lot of information about these layers, but it's worth noting the layer responsible for most of the large avalanches during the big storm just before Christmas was the mid-November rain crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds on Sunday had an extensive effect in exposed terrain at all elevations. Expect scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Sunny weather is likely making wind slabs extra touchy on south-facing slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar layer can be found buried 80-120 cm deep, and has been showing signs of gaining strength recently with little to no recent avalanche activity in the region. The layer may still be reactive in isolated areas such as steep south-facing slopes and thin snowpack areas. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds on Sunday had an extensive effect in exposed terrain at all elevations. Expect scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Sunny weather is likely making the wind slabs extra touchy on south-facing slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar interface can be found buried 50-100 cm deep. The interface has been showing signs of gaining strength in thick snowpack areas, but remains a concern in thin snowpack areas throughout the region. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This region saw 30-60 cm new snow during last week's storms. The new snow sits over a weak layer buried on Boxing day that was initially reactive but now appears to have gained strength. Recent winds switched from mainly southwesterly to northerly, &quot;reverse loading&quot; areas that were previously scoured. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Slightly lower in the snowpack is an interface buried mid-December, now down 40-100 cm. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region but was reactive for a while last week west of Trail and Castlegar where preserved surface hoar was thought to be responsible for four small (but surprising) skier trigger avalanches. It will be important to continue to monitor this layer for further signs of reactivity.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_DDF6C5E8">A wind slab on the surface up to 10cm is found mostly in open areas at all elevations. Our main concern in the snow pack is the persistent slab that sits on a 10cm facet layer(December 18th layer) approximately 35cm down. Our second concern is the November rain crust which is located in the lower third of the snowpack mostly below 2400m. Below tree line, the snowpack is mostly faceted and not very supportive to skier traffic.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Right now, the most important part of the snowpack analysis is figuring out how the wind is redistributing snow into wind slabs. New wind slabs are most likely to be found on south to east aspects behind exposed terrain features, and could be touchy, especially on steep unsupported terrain. The previous metre or so of storm snow has bonded well to the underlying snow. A thin freezing rain crust buried under 10 cm of new snow was reported from the North Shore mountains, but I suspect the only impact this will have will be on skiing quality. Wind slabs aside, the snowpack is otherwise considered to be well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds over the weekend had an extensive effect in exposed terrain. Expect scouring and wind slabs in unusual places, as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Sunny weather is likely making the surface snow touchy on south-facing slopes. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar layer can be found buried 70-120 cm deep, and has been showing signs of gaining strength recently with no recent avalanche activity in the region. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds over the weekend had an extensive effect in exposed terrain. Expect scouring and wind slabs in unusual places, as the winds shifted from west to northeast during the arctic outbreak. Sunny weather is likely making the snow extra touchy on south-facing slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar layer can be found buried 30-60 cm deep. This layer has been unreactive recently, although snowpack test suggest it may still be possible to trigger in shallow snowpack areas. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground that appears to be dormant.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snow from last week is showing signs of consolidating into soft slabs and sits on a variety of wind-affected surfaces at treeline and in the alpine.  That said, the main concern is windslabs (and some cornices) forming in the alpine due to the recent arctic outbreak winds. Deeper in the snowpack the mid-December persistent layer (facet interface) has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin zone than closer to Fernie: Watch out for thinner snow packs and areas of crossloading in isolated areas (think shallow rocky areas) where an avalanche could step down to trigger deeper layers. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The recent storm snow has been transported by northeast winds into wind slabs on south and west aspects. In some areas these wind slabs may sitting on an old scoured surface that was stripped by previous strong westerly winds that developed wind slabs on north and east aspects. The newer wind slabs are probably easier to trigger, but the old wind slabs may continue to release with the added load of a rider, especially where they are sitting on a shallow weak sugary base. Travel conditions have been challenging and little change is expected until the next warm up helps to settle the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between Monday and Friday last week, 70-100 cm of storm snow accumulated in the region. The critical part of snowpack analysis under current conditions is figuring out how the wind is redistributing this snow into wind slabs. Recent extreme northerly winds have &quot;reverse loaded&quot; much of the new snow onto southerly slopes that were previously scoured. Moderate northerly winds continued to promote this wind slab formation into Tuesday. The existence of wind slabs on solar aspects is important to note as clear skies will allow for strong solar radiation to affect these aspects. Below the new snow from last week lies the Boxing Day interface which consists of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is generally well bonded to this interface. The mid-December interface is now down 100-150 cm and is generally considered to be stable in this region. Snowpack layers below this are well bonded.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Most parts of the region saw 60-90 cm new snow last week, which is reported to be generally bonding well to underlying snow. With that said, the critical issue under our current conditions is the wind slab problem that exists in wind-exposed areas. Below the new snow, a facet/surface hoar layer that was observed in the Duffey Lake area does not seem to have turned into a major concern. For low snow areas such as the Chilcotins, another concern is a layer of faceted snow from mid-December that is buried under approximately 50 cm of snow. This mid-December interface is now down over 1 m in most other areas and is generally considered to be stable, except in shallow snowpack areas as mentioned above, where snowpack tests indicate it could still be a viable failure plane.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Change is slow due to cold temperatures. Last weeks storm snow has settled a bit, and now there is 40-60 cm in protected areas above the surface hoar that was buried on Christmas. Strong to extreme winds from the north or northeast have developed wind slabs above various old surfaces that include a layer of feathery surface hoar, making wide propagations possible.&nbsp; An earlier weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found in isolated areas buried 100-150 cm deep. The layer consists of preserved surface hoar or weak faceted (sugary) snow. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. In shallow snowpack areas, especially north of Ningunsaw, an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack has developed weak facets and might be triggerable from a thin or rocky area on a convex slope.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snowpack depths in this region are still shallow - around 1 m or so, meaning there are a lot of weak sugary facets in the snowpack. Recent storm snow is being redistributed by strong to extreme winds, and wind slabs are widespread behind exposed features. Where hard wind slabs overlie weak facets, the structure is ripe for human-triggered avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In addition to the sugary facets, you may find a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), buried around 20 - 30 cm below the surface. There is another weak layer that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be found close to the bottom of the snowpack nestled in amongst the facets. We don't have a lot of information about these layers, but it's worth noting the layer responsible for most of the large avalanches during the big storm just before Christmas was the mid-November rain crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds over the weekend had an extensive effect in exposed terrain. Expect scouring and wind slabs in unusual places, as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Sunny weather is likely making the surface snow touchy on south-facing slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar layer can be found buried 80-120 cm deep, and has been showing signs of gaining strength recently with little to no recent avalanche activity in the region. The layer may still be reactive in isolated areas such as steep south-facing slopes and thin snowpack areas. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds on Sunday had an extensive effect in exposed terrain at all elevations. Expect scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Sunny weather is likely making the wind slabs extra touchy on south-facing slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar interface can be found buried 50-100 cm deep. The interface has been showing signs of gaining strength in thick snowpack areas, but remains a concern in thin snowpack areas throughout the region. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This region saw 30-60 cm new snow during last week's storms (with more in the eastern areas and less in the west). The new snow sits over a weak layer buried on Boxing Day that was initially reactive but now appears to have gained strength. Recent winds switched from mainly southwesterly to northerly, &quot;reverse loading&quot; areas and causing windslabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Slightly lower in the snowpack is an interface buried mid-December, now down 40-100 cm. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region but was reactive for a while last week west of Trail and Castlegar where preserved surface hoar was thought to be responsible for four small (but surprising) skier trigger avalanches. It will be important to continue to monitor this layer for further signs of reactivity.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Nothing new for snow in the last 24 hours. No surprise given the arrival of more cold arctic air. Last night saw lows of -36 on the Spray Rd. So far this cold has done little to change the overall snowpack character. The surface windslabs appear at treeline elevations and extend up to the high alpine on N-S aspects. The treeline midpack is continuing to lose strength and has a distinctly hollow, or &quot;upside down&quot; feel to it. The Dec 18 facets are still the main concern and are down approximately 40-50cm at treeline. The &quot;deep&quot; persistent layer (named for it's relative depth within the snowpack-in the bottom third) is next on the list of concerns. This is down 80-100cm at treeline and is starting to show signs of weakness in stability tests. Both of these layers are widespread in terms of aspect.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The high alpine did see some wind transport today from the north. Its doubtful these formed any significant slabs given the cold, but there could be some isolated slabs in immediate lees on SE-SW aspects. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong northerly winds have redistributed loose snow from recent storms into wind slabs behind exposed terrain features on southerly aspects, including both southwest and possibly southeast slopes. Approximately 95 cm of well-settled storm snow lies on the surface and has bonded well to the underlying snow. While snowpack tests have revealed no significant instability within the storm snow, the spatial variability of wind slab instabilities may be a limiting factor. Aside from wind slab instabilities in the upper snowpack, the mid and lower snowpack are considered to be well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar is growing and the upper snowpack is faceting. Strong winds over the weekend had an extensive effect in exposed terrain. Expect scouring and wind slabs in unusual places, as the winds shifted from west to northeast. The mid-December facet/surface hoar layer can be found buried 70-120 cm deep, and has been showing signs of gaining strength recently with no recent avalanche activity in the region. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar is growing and the upper snowpack is faceting. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Continued moderate variable winds have been keeping wind-slabs fresh and touchy in some areas and sun-exposure is likely making the wind slabs extra touchy on south-facing slopes. Facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December has been giving hard and broken or no results in snowpack tests where it is down close to a metre. However, recent snowpack tests in a shallower area, gave moderate sudden planar results on this persistent weakness where it was found as surface hoar down 20-30 cm. This suggests that the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas; however, the potential for step-down avalanches remains where it is deeper. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snow from last week is showing signs of consolidating into soft slabs and sits on a variety of wind-affected surfaces at treeline and in the alpine. That said, the main concern is windslabs (and some cornices) forming in the alpine due to the recent arctic outbreak winds. Deeper in the snowpack the mid-December persistent layer (facet interface) has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin zone than closer to Fernie: Watch out for thinner snow packs and areas of crossloading in isolated areas (think shallow rocky areas) where an avalanche could step down to trigger deeper layers. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The recent storm snow has been transported by northeast winds into wind slabs on south and west aspects. In some areas these wind slabs may be sitting on an old scoured surface that was stripped by previous strong westerly winds that developed wind slabs on north and east aspects. The newer wind slabs are probably easier to trigger, but the old wind slabs may continue to release with the added load of a rider, especially where they are sitting on a shallow weak sugary base. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid snowpack is generally right side up, with the mid-December interface down 40-80cms, giving inconsistent results in snowpack tests. There is some faceting below this interface but resistances are good and showing signs of rounding (stabilizing). </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Travel conditions have been challenging and little change is expected until the next warm up helps to settle the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">70-100 cm of storm snow accumulated in the region during a series of storms last week. The critical part of snowpack analysis under our current conditions is determining how the wind is redistributing this storm snow into wind slabs. Recent extreme northerly winds have &quot;reverse loaded&quot; much of the new snow onto southerly slopes that were previously scoured. Moderate northerly winds continued to promote this wind slab formation into Wednesday. The existence of wind slabs on solar aspects is important to note as clear skies will allow for strong solar radiation to affect these aspects. Up to 100 cm below the surface lies the Boxing Day interface, which consists of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is generally well bonded to this interface. The mid-December interface is now down 100-150 cm and is generally considered to be stable in this region. Snowpack layers below this are well bonded.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Most parts of the region saw 60-90 cm new snow last week, which is reported to be generally bonding well to underlying snow. With that said, the critical issue under our current conditions is determining where wind slabs have been formed in response to recent strong winds redistributing our new snow. Buried below the new snow, a facet/surface hoar layer that was observed in the Duffey Lake area does not seem to have turned into a major concern. For low snow areas such as the Chilcotins, another concern is a layer of faceted snow from mid-December that is buried under approximately 50 cm of snow. This mid-December interface is now down over 1 m in most other areas and is generally considered to be stable, except in shallow snowpack areas as mentioned above, where snowpack tests indicate it could still be a viable failure plane.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Uncertain how the band of warm air around treeline has affected the recent wind slabs and persistent weak layer. I suspect that there has been little change in the high alpine and below treeline. Last weeks storm snow has settled a bit, and now there is 40-60 cm in protected areas above the surface hoar that was buried on Christmas. Strong to extreme winds from the north or northeast have developed wind slabs above various old surfaces that include a layer of feathery surface hoar, making wide propagations possible. An earlier weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found in isolated areas buried 100-150 cm deep. The layer consists of preserved surface hoar or weak faceted (sugary) snow. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. In shallow snowpack areas, especially north of Ningunsaw, an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack has developed weak facets and might be triggerable from a thin or rocky area on a convex slope.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The height of snow on the ground at treeline in most of the recreation areas in this region is about 100 cm. Deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region may have closer to 200 cm at treeline and up to 250 cm in the alpine. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak facetted or sugary grains beneath hard wind slabs. These wind slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak snow crystals near or at the ground.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In addition to the sugary facets, you may find a layer of feathery surface hoar (up to 15 mm in sheltered areas), buried around 20 - 30 cm below the surface. There is another weak layer that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be found close to the bottom of the snowpack nestled in amongst the facets. We don't have a lot of information about these layers, but it's worth noting the layer responsible for most of the large avalanches during the big storm just before Christmas was the mid-November rain crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar is growing and the upper snowpack is faceting. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Continued moderate variable winds have been keeping wind slabs fresh and touchy in some areas and sun-exposure is likely making the wind slabs extra touchy on south-facing slopes. Facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December has been giving hard and broken or no results in snowpack tests where it is down around a metre or more. However, recent snowpack tests in a shallower area gave moderate sudden planar results on this persistent weakness where it was found as surface hoar down 55 cm. This suggests that the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas; however, the potential for step-down avalanches remains where it is deeper. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar is growing and the upper snowpack is faceting. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Continued moderate to strong northerly winds have been keeping wind slabs fresh and touchy in some areas and sun-exposure is likely making the wind slabs extra touchy on south-facing slopes. Facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December recently gave moderate but broken snowpack test results where it was found down a metre or more. In a shallow snowpack area, recent snowpack tests gave moderate sudden collapse results on this persistent weakness. This suggests that the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas; however, the potential for step-down avalanches remains where it is deeper. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">The snow from last week (30-60 cm) has been exposed to east through northerly winds during this cold clear period. In many areas &quot;reverse loading&quot; occurred, causing windslabs to form and giving sudden planar results in snowpack tests. The most recent snow sits over a weak layer buried on Boxing Day that was initially reactive but now appears to have gained strength.  </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">Slightly lower in the snowpack is an interface buried mid-December, now down 40-100 cm. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region but was reactive for a while last week west of Trail and Castlegar where preserved surface hoar was thought to be responsible for four small (but surprising) skier trigger avalanches. It will be important to continue to monitor this layer for further signs of reactivity.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E8C8DFFA"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">Little change over the past 24hrs. Widespread wind slabs up to 10cm thick in Alpine areas from normal and reverse wind loading. Evidence of recent natural avalanche cycle stepping down to Dec 18th interface and the Nov crust layer in some areas (such as Highwood Pass). Cold temps continue to draw out what little strength is left of the low elevation snowpack. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 95 cm of well-settled storm snow lies on the surface after a series of storms last week. In the days following the storms, strong northerly winds redistributed loose storm snow into wind slabs behind exposed terrain features, mainly on south to west aspects. These wind slabs have gained considerable strength in recent days but remain a concern over the short term. Aside from possible wind slab instabilities in the upper snowpack, the mid and lower snowpack are considered to be well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar and surface facets may buried by a light dusting of fresh snow in some places. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Southwesterly winds are likely keeping winds slabs fresh in some areas, while old wind slabs are breaking down with faceting in other areas. The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep, and has been showing signs of gaining strength recently with no recent avalanche activity in the region. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Surface hoar is growing and the upper snowpack is faceting. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Continued moderate variable winds have been keeping wind-slabs fresh and touchy in some areas and sun-exposure is likely making the wind slabs extra touchy on south-facing slopes. Facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December has been giving hard and broken or no results in snowpack tests where it is down close to a metre. However, recent snowpack tests in a shallower area, gave moderate sudden planar results on this persistent weakness where it was found as surface hoar down 20-30 cm. This suggests that the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas; however, the potential for step-down avalanches remains where it is deeper. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_A8FEC758">We're seeing surface snow conditions ranging from very wind affected (sastrugi and hard slabs) to softer wind slabs. These sit on a variety of older wind-affected surfaces at treeline and in the alpine and have given easy test results in the top 15-20cms of the snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_A8FEC758">That said, the main concern remains the windslabs (and some cornices) formed in the alpine thanks to the recent arctic outbreak winds. Deeper in the snowpack the mid-December persistent layer (facet interface) has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin zone than closer to Fernie: Watch out for thinner snow packs and areas of crossloading in isolated areas (think shallow rocky areas) where an avalanche could step down to trigger deeper layers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_F5A21D89"> The recent storm snow has been transported by northeast winds into wind slabs on south and west aspects. In some areas these wind slabs may be sitting on an old scoured surface that was stripped by previous strong westerly winds that developed wind slabs on north and east aspects. The newer wind slabs are probably easier to trigger, but the old wind slabs may continue to release with the added load of a rider, especially where they are sitting on a shallow weak sugary base.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_F5A21D89">The mid snowpack is generally right side up, with the mid-December interface down 40-80cms, giving inconsistent results in snowpack tests. There is some faceting below this interface but resistances are good and showing signs of rounding (stabilizing).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_F5A21D89">Travel conditions have been challenging (especially at lower elevations) and little change is expected until the next warm up helps to settle the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate to extreme winds and cold temperatures over the past few days have left our snow surface a variable mix of soft wind slab, hard wind slab, sastrugi, and faceted snow. 70-100 cm of storm snow lies below this surface, the product of last weeks series of storms. The previously mentioned wind slabs are the primary weakness of concern in our current snowpack. As a product of northerly winds, these wind slabs were reverse loaded into the terrain in our region, forming primarily on southerly slopes in wind-exposed terrain. Local wind patterns, however, allowed slabs to develop on a surprising range of aspects, from west to east. Snowpack tests of various wind slabs continue to produce easy to moderate results, with occasional sudden planar results. Up to 100 cm below the surface lies the Boxing Day interface, which consists of wind affected surfaces, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is generally well bonded to this interface. The mid-December interface is now down 100-150 cm and is generally considered to be stable in this region. Snowpack layers below this are well bonded.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent strong winds and cold temperatures have left our snow surface a mix of soft wind slab, hard wind slab, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. 60-90 cm of storm snow lies below this surface, the product of last weeks series of storms. Wind slabs are the primary weakness of concern in our current snowpack. As a product of northerly winds, these wind slabs reverse loaded into the terrain in our region, forming mainly on southerly slopes in wind-exposed areas. While recent faceting has actually had the effect of breaking down the cohesiveness of some wind slabs, snowpack tests were producing easy results with occasionally sudden fracture character on wind slab interfaces as recently as Tuesday. For low snow areas such as the Chilcotins, two other layers of concern exist. One is the surface hoar and faceted snow from mid-December buried approximately 50 cm deep. Below this, the 90-125 cm-deep November 12 crust exists. Snowpack tests continue to indicate these could both be viable failure planes in shallow snowpack areas. Elsewhere, these layers are typically much deeper and are generally considered to be stable. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A layer of surface hoar has been growing on the surface in many areas of the region and will be buried over Thursday night. Below the surface, warm temperatures on Wednesday have likely promoted some strengthening of our recent wind slabs. A similar strengthening effect can be expected - although to a lesser degree - at our Christmas surface hoar layer. Aided by warm temperatures, last week's storm snow has settled a bit more, leaving 35-55 cm in protected areas above the Christmas surface hoar. This week's strong to extreme winds from the north and northeast developed wind slabs above various old surfaces, including our Christmas surface hoar. Slabs failing over this layer will be capable of wide propagations. An earlier weak interface that formed during the early December cold snap can be found in isolated areas buried 100-150 cm deep. This layer consists of preserved surface hoar or weak faceted (sugary) snow. The lower snowpack is well consolidated in deep snowpack areas. In shallow snowpack areas, especially around Ningunsaw, an old rain crust near the bottom of the snowpack has developed weak facets and might be triggerable from a thin or rocky area on a convex slope.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snow depth at treeline varies from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m at deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region, and up to 250 cm in the alpine. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak facetted or sugary grains beneath hard wind slabs. These wind slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak snow crystals near or at the ground. In addition to the facets, a thick layer of buried surface hoar may be found 20-30 cm below the surface. There is another persistent weakness that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be lurking close to the ground nestled in amongst the facets. We don't have a lot of information about these layers, but it's worth noting the weakness responsible for most of the large avalanches during the big storm just before Christmas was the mid-November rain crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar and surface facets have likely been buried by a light dusting of fresh snow. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Moderate southeasterly winds are likely keeping winds slabs fresh in some areas, while old wind slabs are breaking down with faceting in other areas. Facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December has been giving hard and broken or no results in snowpack tests where it is down around a metre or more. However, recent snowpack tests in a shallower area gave moderate sudden planar results on this persistent weakness where it was found as surface hoar down 55 cm. This suggests that the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas; however, the potential for step-down avalanches remains where it is deeper. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar and surface facets may buried by up to 15 cm of fresh snow in some places. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Moderate southeasterly winds are likely keeping winds slabs fresh in some areas, while old wind slabs are breaking down with faceting in other areas. Facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December recently gave moderate but broken snowpack test results where it was found down a metre or more. In a shallow snowpack area, recent snowpack tests gave moderate sudden collapse results on this persistent weakness. This suggests that the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas; however, the potential for step-down avalanches remains where it is deeper. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">On and near the surface, facets and surface hoar continue to form throughout the region, while some sun crust is found on steep solar (south) aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snow from last week (30-60 cm) has been exposed to east through northerly winds during this cold clear period. In many areas &quot;reverse loading&quot; occurred, causing windslabs to form and giving sudden planar results in snowpack tests. The most recent snow sits over a weak layer buried on Boxing Day that was initially reactive but now appears to have gained strength. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Slightly lower in the snowpack is an interface buried mid-December, now down 40-100 cm. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region giving moderate results in snowpack tests, but not reactive to skier loads. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A visit to some of our more remote weather plots today helped to give a more regional perspective on the snowpack. Below treeline is still the same as its been for the last while. Weak snow makes for difficult travel and poor coverage in terms of depth. On the up side, there are very few avalanche concerns! Depths range from 50cm-95cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Treeline is variable these days for coverage and avalanche problems. Lower treeline suffers from the same weak snow/poor coverage issue. At the upper end of treeline the 10-30cm thick surface windslabs are present in open areas and vary in density. Hardslabs are common in windy areas and don't inspire confidence for ski quality or avalanches. The Dec 18th facet layer is prominent in all areas. It is down 30-50cm with a distinct density change. Lower down, the Nov crust layer is intact and still quite solid as a layer, but we are seeing depth hoar on top of it in most areas now. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The alpine is essentially the same as treeline, but more variable. Wind exposure is the thing to keep in mind when predicting the hardslab locations. One common theme was the rapid change from feature to feature. In a few steps, the snowpack character changes considerably. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Cold temperatures and strong northerly winds over the past few days have left our snow surface a variable mix of faceted snow, wind crust, and wind slab. Approximately 95 cm of well-settled storm snow lies below this surface, the product of last week's series of storms. Earlier this week, the previously mentioned strong northerly winds that followed the storms redistributed loose storm snow into wind slabs behind exposed terrain features, mainly on south to west aspects. These wind slabs have gained considerable strength in recent days and remain a concern mainly in steep, unsupported terrain. Aside from possible wind slab instabilities in the upper snowpack, the mid and lower snowpack are considered to be well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar and facets are buried by 10-15 cm of fresh snow in most places. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Southeasterly winds are likely keeping winds slabs fresh in some areas, while old wind slabs are breaking down with faceting in other areas. The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep is generally giving hard resistant or no results in snowpack tests. But we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly where it is shallower. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_2823317B"> Surface hoar is growing and the upper snowpack is faceting. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Continued moderate variable winds have been keeping wind-slabs fresh and touchy in some areas and sun-exposure is likely making the wind slabs extra touchy on south-facing slopes. Facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December has been giving hard and broken or no results in snowpack tests where it is down close to a metre. However, recent snowpack tests in a shallower area, gave moderate sudden planar results on this persistent weakness where it was found as surface hoar down 20-30 cm. This suggests that the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas; however, the potential for step-down avalanches remains where it is deeper. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> We're seeing surface snow conditions ranging from very wind affected (sastrugi and hard slabs) to softer wind slabs. The best skiing seems to be on north-facing aspects (but please see the avalanche summary (and MIN report) above and minimize your overhead exposure). These sit on a variety of older wind-affected surfaces at treeline and in the alpine and have given easy test results in the top 15-20cms of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">That said, the main concern remains the windslabs (and some cornices) formed in the alpine thanks to the recent arctic outbreak winds. Deeper in the snowpack the mid-December persistent layer (facet interface) has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin zone than closer to Fernie: Watch out for thinner snow packs and areas of crossloading in isolated areas (think shallow rocky areas) where an avalanche could step down to trigger deeper layers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Another round of moderate northerly winds has moved through the Crowsnest pass and northern areas in the past 24 hours, causing fresh wind slabs on south and west aspects. In some areas these wind slabs may be sitting on an old scoured surface that was stripped by previous strong westerly winds that developed wind slabs on north and east aspects. The newer wind slabs are probably easier to trigger, but the old wind slabs may continue to release with the added load of a rider, especially where they are sitting on a shallow weak sugary base.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid snowpack is generally right side up, with the mid-December interface down 40-80cms, giving inconsistent results in snowpack tests. There is some faceting below this interface but resistances are good and showing signs of rounding (stabilizing).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Travel conditions have been challenging (especially at lower elevations) and little change is expected until a significant warm up helps to settle the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A trace of new snow covers a variable surface with a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Wind slabs are the primary weakness of concern in the current snowpack. Last week's winds reverse loaded many terrain features and formed stubborn wind slabs on a surprising range of aspects. Snowpack tests on wind slabs are producing easy to moderate results, with occasional sudden planar results. The Boxing Day interface can be found up to 100 cm deep and consists of wind packed snow, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is generally well bonded to this interface. Snowpack layers below this interface are also generally well bonded.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent cold temperatures and strong winds have left our snow surface a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Wind slabs are the primary weakness of concern in our current snowpack. Last week's winds were primarily from the north, which reverse loaded many terrain features and formed stubborn wind slabs on southerly slopes in wind-exposed areas. For low snow areas such as the Chilcotins, two other layers of concern exist. One is a weak layer of snow from mid-December buried approximately 50 cm deep and other is an old rain crust from November buried 90-120 cm deep. Snowpack tests indicate these layers may be possible to trigger in shallow snowpack areas. Elsewhere, these layers are typically much deeper and are considered to be stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">20-40 cm of new storm snow sits above a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar, and faceted snow. Expect the new snow to bond poorly to this interface and form extra touchy storm slabs on wind-loaded features. Below the new snow, a well settled slab sits above the Christmas surface hoar layer, which is now buried 40-80 cm deep and may still be reactive in sheltered areas. Deeper weak layers have only been reactive in areas with thin snowpacks. This includes a facet layer from early December that has been reactive in snowpack tests at lower elevations in the southern part of the region, and weak facets near the ground that have produced avalanches in the northern part of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A light dusting of snow has likely buried recently formed surface hoar and/or facets. Snow depth at treeline varies from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m at deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region, and up to 250 cm in the alpine. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak facetted or sugary grains beneath hard wind slabs. These wind slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak snow crystals near or at the ground. In addition to the facets, a thick layer of buried surface hoar may be found 20-30 cm below the surface. There is another persistent weakness that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be lurking close to the ground nestled in amongst the facets.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar and surface facets have been buried by a light dusting of fresh snow. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Moderate southeasterly winds are likely keeping winds slabs fresh in some areas, while old wind slabs are breaking down with faceting in other areas. Persistent weakness in the mid-pack are giving variable results in snowpack tests, but are generally most touchy in shallow snowpack areas. Recent snowpack tests gave moderate to hard but resistant results on two different layers of facets and/or buried surface hoar in the top metre. The lower snowpack seems to be well bonded, but features a crust/facet deep persistent weakness near the ground, which remains a concern in shallow rocky snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface hoar and surface facets may buried by up to 15 cm of fresh snow in some places. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have resulted in scouring, hard wind slabs, and thicker reactive wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Moderate southeasterly winds are likely keeping winds slabs fresh in some areas, while old wind slabs are breaking down with faceting in other areas. Persistent and deep persistent weakness in the mid and lower snowpack are giving variable results in snowpack tests, but are generally most touchy in shallow snowpack areas. Recent snowpack tests gave moderate but resistant results on facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December where it was found down 45 cm, and hard but sudden collapse results on the facet/crust weakness down 116 cm near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We've had a skiff of new snow -  in most places just enough to bury the facets and surface hoar which have formed throughout the region. On steep solar (south) aspects, a breakable sun crust exists. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The last snow we received (30-60 cm) was exposed to east through northerly winds during the cold clear period. In many areas &quot;reverse loading&quot; occurred, causing windslabs to form and giving sudden planar results in snowpack tests. This snow sits over a weak layer buried on Boxing Day that was initially reactive but now appears to have gained strength. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Slightly lower in the snowpack is an interface buried mid-December, now down 40-100 cm. This layer appears to be well bonded in many parts of the region giving moderate results in snowpack tests, but not reactive to skier loads. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affect in alpine areas and into open areas at treeline and below.  Natural avalanche activity has began to subside but the snowpack is still within the range of being triggerred by a skier.  Our main concerns continue to be thin windslabs in alpine areas that are overlying the 1218 facets down 30-50cm.  This layer is easy to locate as its marked by a major density change in the snowpack.  Lower in the snowpack is the 1112 crust.  Not much natural avalanche activity has been observed on this layer but it is still within our minds.  Thin snowpack areas will be the places werein you may be able to trigger this weakness. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">On Friday, 15 cm of new snow and moderate southeast winds likely formed fresh wind slabs on north-facing slopes in the lee of exposed features. The new snow has buried a variable interface composed of faceted (sugary) snow, wind crusts, and wind slabs. Some of these older buried wind slabs may still be reactive in isolated steep unsupported slopes. Aside from possible wind slab instabilities in the upper snowpack, the mid and lower snowpack are considered to be well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-15cm of recent snow and light to moderate winds have created fresh thin wind slabs in exposed areas at treeline and above. This recent snow has also covered old, thicker wind and hard slabs from previous wind events. The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally giving hard resistant or no results in snowpack tests. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_2823317B">A trace of new snow has covered a layer of surface hoar that was growing on the surface before January 6. Below the surface, recent cold temperatures have been promoting faceting of the upper snowpack. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have scoured windward slopes and formed hard wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Continued moderate variable winds have been keeping wind slabs fresh and touchy in some areas. The layer of facets and surface hoar that was buried mid-December has been giving hard and broken results or non-results in snowpack tests where it is found around a metre below the surface. Snowpack tests in shallower areas, however, have yielded moderate sudden planar results on this persistent weakness, suggesting the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas. With that said, the potential for a wind slab avalanche to step down to this weak layer remains a concern where it lies deeper in the snowpack. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> A trace of new snow over Thursday night has covered a variable snow surface that includes wind slabs as well as sastrugi and hard slabs. Surface hoar up to 20mm was reported to be growing on the surface in some areas before the light snowfall. The aforementioned wind slabs formed in the alpine after recent arctic outbreak winds scoured snow from a wide range of aspects, forming touchy deposits on the lee side of exposed features. These wind slabs sit on a variety of older wind-affected surfaces at treeline and in the alpine and have given easy test results in the top 15-20cms of the snowpack and remain the primary stability concern in our snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent layer (facet interface) has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin zone than closer to Fernie. Take extra caution in thinner snowpack areas and areas of crossloaded snow where a smaller wind slab avalanche could step down to trigger this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent moderate northerly winds have continued to load our wind slabs on south and west aspects. In some areas these wind slabs may be sitting on an old scoured surface that was stripped by previous strong westerly winds that developed wind slabs on north and east aspects. The newer wind slabs are probably easier to trigger, but the old wind slabs may continue to release with the added load of a rider, especially where they are sitting on a shallow weak sugary base. The mid snowpack is generally right side up, with the mid-December interface down 40-80cms, giving inconsistent results in snowpack tests. There is some faceting below this interface but resistances are good and showing signs of rounding (stabilizing). Travel conditions have been challenging (especially at lower elevations) and little change is expected until a significant warm up helps to settle the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 5 cm of new snow covers a variable surface with a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Last week's winds reverse loaded many terrain features and formed stubborn wind slabs on a surprising range of aspects. An interface of faceted (sugary) snow and surface hoar was buried on Boxing Day and can be found up to 100 cm deep. Recent observations suggest the snow has bonded well to this interface. Snowpack layers below this interface are also generally well bonded.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 5 cm of new snow covers a variable surface with a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, sun crust, and even some surface hoar. Last week's winds were primarily from the north, which reverse loaded many terrain features and formed stubborn wind slabs. For low snow areas, such as the northern part of the region, two layers of concern exist. One is a weak layer of snow from mid-December buried approximately 50 cm deep and other is an old rain crust from November buried 80-120 cm deep. Snowpack tests indicate these layers may be possible to trigger in shallow snowpack areas. Elsewhere, these layers are typically much deeper and are considered to be stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">20-50 cm of new storm snow sits above a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar, and faceted snow. Expect the new snow to bond poorly to this interface and form extra touchy storm slabs on wind-loaded features. Wind-loading will likely occur on a wide variety of aspects, as winds are shifting to the northeast. Below the new snow, a well settled slab sits above the Christmas surface hoar layer, which is now buried 50-100 cm deep and may still be reactive in sheltered areas. Deeper weak layers have only been reactive in areas with thin snowpacks. This includes a facet layer from mid-December that has been reactive in snowpack tests at lower elevations, and weak facets near the ground that have produced avalanches in the northern part of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm of recent snow with northerly winds have likely created fresh wind slabs sitting on top buried surface hoar and/or facets. Snow depth at treeline varies from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m at deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region, and up to 250 cm in the alpine. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak facetted or sugary grains beneath hard wind slabs. These wind slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak snow crystals near or at the ground. In addition to the facets, a thick layer of buried surface hoar may be found 20-30 cm below the surface. There is another persistent weakness that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 40-60 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be lurking close to the ground nestled in amongst the facets.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of recent snow and light winds have created thin wind slabs in exposed alpine terrain. </span><span class="s_1681A555">This recent snow has also covered old, thicker wind and hard slabs from previous wind events. Persistent weak layers</span><span class="s_3FE45715"> in the mid-pack are giving variable results in snowpack tests, but are generally most touchy in shallow snowpack areas. Recent snowpack tests gave moderate to hard but resistant results on two different layers of facets and/or buried surface hoar in the top metre. The lower snowpack seems to be well bonded, but features a crust/facet deep persistent weakness near the ground, which remains a concern in shallow rocky snowpack areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">10-15 cm of recent snow and light winds have created thin wind slabs in exposed terrain at treeline and above. This recent snow has also covered old, thicker wind and hard slabs from previous wind events.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Persistent and deep persistent weakness in the mid and lower snowpack are giving variable results in snowpack tests, but are generally most touchy in shallow snowpack areas. Recent snowpack tests gave moderate but resistant results on facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December where it was found down 45 cm, and hard but sudden collapse results on the facet/crust weakness down 116 cm near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 5 cm of new snow fell over Thursday night, covering facets and surface hoar which formed throughout the region during cold, dry weather earlier this week. On steep solar (south) aspects, a breakable sun crust may exist below the new snow. Recent cold temperatures have been promoting faceting, especially in the upper snowpack. The last snow we received (30-60 cm) was exposed to east through northerly winds during the cold clear period. While many areas saw &quot;reverse loading&quot; of the storm snow into wind slabs on south to west aspects, local wind patterns have seen slabs form on a wide range of aspects. Snowpack testing of various wind slabs continues to yield moderate to hard results with sudden fracture character. Below the wind slabs and storm snow, the weak layer buried on Boxing Day appears to have formed a good bond to the snow above. 50-70 cm below the surface we have another weak layer buried on December 18. This layer appears to be well bonded in most parts of the region, giving moderate results in snowpack tests, but not expected to be reactive to skier loads.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affect in alpine areas and into open areas at treeline and below. Natural avalanche activity has began to subside but the snowpack is still within the range of being triggerred by a skier. Our main concerns continue to be thin windslabs in alpine areas that are overlying the 1218 facets down 30-50cm. This layer is easy to locate as its marked by a major density change in the snowpack. Lower in the snowpack is the 1112 crust. Not much natural avalanche activity has been observed on this layer but it is still within our minds. Thin snowpack areas will be the places werein you may be able to trigger this weakness. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">New snow is expected to arrive Sunday afternoon and bury the 15 cm of settling snow from Friday's storm. Sustained southerly winds are building small wind slabs on north-facing slopes in the lee of exposed features. Friday's snow buried a variable interface composed of faceted (sugary) snow and old hard wind slabs. Recent reports suggest the snow has not bonded well to this interface, which means it could become a sliding layer during the next storm. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_DDF6C5E8">Forecast 10-20 cm of new snow by Monday afternoon and moderate southwest winds are expected to create fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above. Recent snow has also covered old, thicker wind and hard slabs from previous wind events. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally giving hard resistant or no results in snowpack tests. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_2823317B">A trace of new snow has covered a layer of surface hoar that was growing on the surface before January 6. Below the surface, recent cold temperatures have been promoting faceting of the upper snowpack. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have scoured windward slopes and formed hard wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Continued moderate variable winds have been keeping wind slabs fresh and touchy in some areas. The layer of facets and surface hoar that was buried mid-December has been giving hard and broken results or non-results in snowpack tests where it is found around a metre below the surface. Snowpack tests in shallower areas, however, have yielded moderate sudden planar results on this persistent weakness, suggesting the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas. With that said, the potential for a wind slab avalanche to step down to this weak layer remains a concern where it lies deeper in the snowpack. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">After light snowfall over the last couple of days, significant new snow over Sunday and Monday will continue to bury a variable snow surface that includes wind slabs as well as sastrugi and hard slabs. Surface hoar up to 20mm was reported to be growing on the surface in some areas before Thursday's light snowfall. The previously mentioned wind slabs formed after recent arctic outbreak winds scoured snow from a wide range of aspects, creating deposits on the lee side of exposed features. These wind slabs sit on a variety of older wind-affected surfaces at treeline and in the alpine and recent snowpack tests of wind slab layers have yielded increasingly resistant results. Cold temperatures may have a role to play in this, as they have promoted faceting in the upper snowpack with the effect of breaking down the cohesion of wind slabs. Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent layer (facet interface) has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin zone than closer to Fernie. Take extra caution in thinner snowpack areas and areas of crossloaded snow where a smaller wind slab avalanche could step down to trigger this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">New snow and wind over Sunday and Monday will recharge our wind slab problem, feeding existing slabs with additional load and forming new slabs in the lee of exposed terrain features. Forecast winds are from the southwest, but recent wind slabs formed under the influence of northerly winds. Yet another layer of wind slabs were formed on north and east aspects below our existing surface slabs. This mix of old and new wind slab problems will require backcountry travelers to be aware of slabs on virtually any aspect. Newer wind slabs will probably be easier to trigger, but the old wind slabs may continue to release with the added load of a rider, especially where they are sitting on a shallow, weak, sugary base. The mid snowpack is generally right side up, with the mid-December interface down 40-80cms, giving inconsistent results in snowpack tests. There is some faceting below this interface but resistances are good and showing signs of rounding (stabilizing). Travel conditions have been challenging (especially at lower elevations) and little change is expected until a significant warm up helps to settle the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> 5-15 cm of snow from Friday covers a variable surface with a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Last week's winds reverse loaded many terrain features and formed stubborn wind slabs on a surprising range of aspects. An interface of faceted (sugary) snow and surface hoar was buried on Boxing Day and can be found up to 100 cm deep. Recent observations suggest the snow has bonded well to this interface. Snowpack layers below this interface are also generally well bonded.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Up to 5 cm of snow from Friday covers a variable surface with a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, sun crust, and even some surface hoar. Last week's winds were primarily from the north, which reverse loaded many terrain features and formed stubborn wind slabs. For low snow areas, such as the northern part of the region, two layers of concern exist. One is a weak layer of snow from mid-December buried approximately 50 cm deep and other is an old rain crust from November buried 80-120 cm deep. Snowpack tests indicate these layers may be possible to trigger in shallow snowpack areas. Elsewhere, these layers are typically much deeper and are considered to be stable.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> 20-40 cm of storm snow sits above a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar, and faceted snow. Expect this snow to bond poorly to this interface and form extra touchy wind slabs on wind-loaded features. Below the new snow, a well settled slab sits above the Christmas surface hoar layer, which is now buried 40-80 cm deep and may still be reactive in sheltered areas. Deeper weak layers have only been reactive in areas with thin snowpacks. This includes a facet layer from early December that has been reactive in snowpack tests at lower elevations in the southern part of the region, and weak facets near the ground that have produced avalanches in the northern part of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm of recent snow with northerly winds have likely created fresh wind slabs sitting on top buried surface hoar and/or facets. Snow depth at treeline varies from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m in deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region, and up to 250 cm in the alpine. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak facetted or sugary grains beneath hard slabs. These hard slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak snow crystals near or at the ground. In addition to the facets, a thick layer of buried surface hoar may be found 30-40 cm below the surface. There is another persistent weakness that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 50-70 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be lurking close to the ground nestled in amongst the facets.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_DDF6C5E8">Forecast 10-20 cm of new snow by Monday afternoon and moderate southwest winds are expected to create fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above. Recent snow has also covered old, thicker wind and hard slabs from previous wind events.</span><span class="s_1681A555"> Persistent weak layers</span><span class="s_3FE45715"> in the mid-pack are giving variable results in snowpack tests, but are generally most touchy in shallow snowpack areas. Recent snowpack tests gave moderate to hard but resistant results on two different layers of facets and/or buried surface hoar in the top metre. The lower snowpack seems to be well bonded, but features a crust/facet deep persistent weakness near the ground, which remains a concern in shallow rocky snowpack areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">Forecast 10-20 cm of new snow by Monday afternoon and moderate southwest winds are expected to create fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above. Recent snow has also covered old, thicker wind and hard slabs from previous wind events.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Persistent and deep persistent weakness in the mid and lower snowpack are giving variable results in snowpack tests, but are generally most touchy in shallow snowpack areas. Recent snowpack tests gave moderate but resistant results on facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December where it was found down 45 cm, and hard but sudden collapse results on the facet/crust weakness down 116 cm near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A thin layer of new snow has buried a layer of facets and surface hoar which formed at the surface during cold, dry weather last week. A breakable sun crust may exist below the new snow on steep solar aspects. Below this, the 30-60 cm of snow we received in the days after Christmas was redistributed into wind slabs after being exposed to east through northerly winds during last week's cold period. Many areas saw &quot;reverse loading&quot; of the storm snow into wind slabs on south to west aspects. Recent cold temperatures have been promoting faceting of the upper snowpack, breaking down the cohesion of these wind slabs. Down 10-30 cm, within the storm snow and wind slab layer, a rain crust buried on December 30 has recently produced easy snowpack test results that warrant continued monitoring. Below the wind slabs and storm snow, another rain crust buried on December 20 can be found 40-70 cm deep. This layer is now producing hard, resistant results in snowpack tests. Down 50-80 cm, the December 18 surface hoar layer exists. While it continues to produce moderate to hard test results, sudden fracture character and a capacity for propagation are keeping it relevant.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind effect in open areas in the Alpine down into tree line. Our main concern still remains human triggering on the persistent slab which sits on the Dec 18 facets(down approx 30-50cm). Our second concern are cross loaded gullies and lee features.&nbsp; The November crust is still present in the lower third of the snow pack. Non-supportive facetted snow below tree line.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span><span class="s_DDF6C5E8">New snow (up to 40cms in 24 hours) is expected to arrive starting late Sunday afternoon and will bury the 15 cm of settling snow from Friday's storm. Sustained southerly winds are building small wind slabs on north-facing slopes in the lee of exposed features. Friday's snow buried a variable interface composed of faceted (sugary) snow and old hard wind slabs (especially at higher elevations). Recent reports suggest the snow has bonded fairly well to this interface; however, it remains a concern as a sliding layer during the next storm. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of low density snow fell on Sunday night and Monday. Moderate to strong southwest winds are expected to have shifted these fresh accumulations into wind slabs at treeline and above. Recent snow has covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events.</span><span class="s_DDF6C5E8"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of new snow has covered a layer of surface hoar that was growing on the surface before January 6. Below the surface, recent cold temperatures have been promoting faceting of the upper snowpack. In exposed areas at all elevations, recent winds have scoured windward slopes and formed hard wind slabs in unusual places as the winds shifted from west to northeast. Continued moderate variable winds have been keeping wind slabs fresh and touchy in some areas. The layer of facets and surface hoar that was buried mid-December has been giving hard and broken results or non-results in snowpack tests where it is found around a metre below the surface. Snowpack tests in shallower areas, however, have yielded moderate sudden planar results on this persistent weakness, suggesting the primary concern for persistent slab avalanches is in shallow snowpack areas. With that said, the potential for a wind slab avalanche to step down to this weak layer remains a concern where it lies deeper in the snowpack. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15-20 cm of new snow has buried a variable snow surface which consists of wind affected surfaces, surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered terrain, and/or widespread near surface faceting. In wind exposed terrain, the snowpack had been heavily scoured by strong outflow winds last week and old lingering wind slabs may still be reactive. Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak facet layer has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin area than areas closer to Fernie. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm of new snow on Monday with moderate winds will recharge our wind slab problem, feeding existing slabs with additional load and forming new slabs in the lee of exposed terrain features. Winds have been switching directions recently and wind slabs should be expected on all aspects. The mid snowpack is generally right side up, with the mid-December interface down 40-80cms, giving inconsistent results in snowpack tests. There is some faceting below this interface but resistances are good and showing signs of rounding and stabilizing. Travel conditions have been challenging (especially at lower elevations) and little change is expected until a significant warm up helps to settle the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">New snow from Sunday night totalled 15 cm near Whistler while 25-30 cm fell in the upper Callaghan / Powder mountain area.  Widespread touchy soft slab avalanches to Size 1.5 occurred on lee slopes with explosives control. The </span><span class="s_3FE45715">new snow from Sunday night and also last Friday is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Lingering wind and soft slabs are the primary weakness of concern in the current snowpack. Last week's winds reverse loaded many terrain features and formed stubborn wind slabs on a surprising range of aspects. The Boxing Day interface can be found up to 100 cm deep and consists of wind packed snow, faceted (sugary) snow, or surface hoar. Recent observations suggest the overlying snow is generally well bonded to this interface. Snowpack layers below this interface are also generally well bonded.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> 20-25cms of low density snow fell Sunday/Monday in the southern (Coquihalla) area, while northern sections received 7-15cms of new snow. Moderate southwesterly winds redistributed the new snow onto North (east) aspects forming reactive soft slabs. Previous </span><span class="s_3FE45715">cold temperatures from last week and strong winds left our snow surface a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. These older wind slabs (on south - west aspects) remain a concern in our current snowpack and were triggered by skiers on Saturday (see link below). For low snow areas such as the Chilcotins, two other layers of concern exist. One is a weak layer of snow from mid-December buried approximately 50 cm deep and other is an old rain crust from November buried 90-120 cm deep. Snowpack tests indicate these layers may be possible to trigger in shallow snowpack areas. Elsewhere, these layers are typically much deeper and are considered to be stable.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent winds have redistributed the 20-40 cm of snow from Friday-Saturday at all elevation bands. This snow sits on a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar, and faceted snow.  The net result is touchy slabs on wind-loaded features and is giving easy to moderate sudden results in snowpack tests. Below the new snow, a well settled slab sits above the Christmas surface hoar layer which is well preserved in southern areas. This surface hoar is now buried 40-80 cm deep, and is still reactive in sheltered areas. Deeper weak layers have only been reactive in areas with thin snowpacks. This includes a facet layer from early December that has been reactive in snowpack tests at lower elevations in the southern part of the region, and weak facets near the ground that have produced avalanches in the northern part of the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm of new snow fell last weekend. Observations have been limited, although I suspect these accumulations have likely been shifted into wind slabs at treeline and in alpine. Snow depth at treeline varies from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m in deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region, and up to 250 cm in the alpine. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak facetted or sugary grains beneath hard slabs. These hard slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak snow crystals near or at the ground. In addition to the facets, a thick layer of buried surface hoar may be found 30-40 cm below the surface. There is another persistent weakness that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 50-70 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be lurking close to the ground nestled in amongst the facets.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of low density snow fell on Sunday night and Monday. Moderate to strong southwest winds are expected to have shifted these fresh accumulations into wind slabs at treeline and above. These accumulations have covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of faceted &quot;sugar snow&quot; and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but remains a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be well bonded, but features a crust/facet deep persistent weakness near the ground which remains a concern on rocky features in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of low density snow fell on Sunday night and Monday. Moderate to strong southwest winds are expected to have shifted these fresh accumulations into wind slabs at treeline and above. Recent snow has also covered old, thicker wind and hard slabs from previous wind events.</span><span class="s_EB2EB4FA"> </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Persistent and deep persistent weakness in the mid and lower snowpack are giving variable results in snowpack tests, but are generally most touchy in shallow snowpack areas. Recent snowpack tests gave moderate but resistant results on facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December where it was found down 45 cm, and hard but sudden collapse results on the facet/crust weakness down 116 cm near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm of new snow has buried a highly variable old snow surface. This interface consists of wind scoured surfaces and old wind slabs in exposed terrain, widespread near surface faceting, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and/or a breakable sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent moderate to strong winds from a variety of directions is expected to have redistributed this new snow in wind exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In the upper snowpack below the new storm snow, a couple old freezing rain crusts may exist. The mid-December surface hoar layer sits down 50-80 cm. This layer is still reactive to snowpack tests in some areas but is generally considered to be dormant. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10 to 15cm of new snow overnight with some minor wind effect in Alpine. The Dec 18th interface is buried 30 to 60cm at Treeline and remains a concern for human triggering. The Nov crust is buried 80 to 100cm deep and is exhibiting facetting both above and below the crust. At lower elevations the snowpack is weak and unsupportive due to prolonged periods of facetting.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The North Shore mountains received 10cm of new snow which came in wet and heavy, bonding well to 15 cm of settling snow from Friday's storm. New snow amounts closer to Squamish were almost double (15-20cm).  Watch out for small wind slabs on north-facing slopes in the lee of exposed features. Friday's snow buried a variable interface composed of faceted (sugary) snow and old hard wind slabs (especially at higher elevations). Recent reports suggest the snow has bonded fairly well to this interface. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_DDF6C5E8"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of low density snow fell on Sunday night and Monday. Moderate to strong southwest and then northerly winds have shifted these fresh accumulations into wind slabs in exposed terrain. Recent snow has covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events.</span><span class="s_DDF6C5E8"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-30 cm of new snow has buried a variable old snow surface which consisted of wind scoured surfaces or old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions is expected to have redistributed some of this new snow in wind exposed terrain. The layer of facets from mid-December is still reactive to snowpack tests in isolated areas but is generally considered to be dormant during this period of cold, dry conditions.  It will be important to watch this layer reacts during the next storm or period of warming.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15-20 cm of new snow has buried a variable snow surface which consists of wind scoured surfaces or old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions is expected to have redistributed some of this new snow in wind exposed terrain.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak facet layer has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin area than areas closer to Fernie. The layer is generally considered dormant right now but may wake up during the next storm or period of warming. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15-20 cm of new snow has buried a variable old snow surface which consists of heavily wind scoured surfaces or old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions is expected to have redistributed some of this new snow in wind exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid pack appears to be variable throughout the region and the structure is dependant on snow depth. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled and right side up with isolated concerns for the mid-December weak layer. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted and there are concerns for the mid-December weak facet layer as well as old faceted crusts deeper in the snowpack and a weakness at the bottom of the snowpack. Due to inconsistencies in snowpack structure throughout the region, the snowpack needs to be treated with respect and further investigated at a local scale in your riding area.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Lingering soft slabs and wind slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack. New snow from Sunday-Monday totalled 18 cm near Whistler while 25-35 cm fell in the upper Callaghan / Powder mountain area - resulting in widespread touchy soft slabs. Winds shifted Tuesday to classic outflow (northerly) patterns with STRONG winds at ridge top This pattern resulted in 'reverse loading' of southerly slopes and has created wind slabs. Please note that with the colder temperatures the snowpack will be slower than usual to heal - give it some time to settle before considering bigger lines. Deeper in the snowpack, the new snow from Sunday night and also last Friday is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Snowpack layers below this interface are generally well bonded, and the lower snowpack is solid.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Lingering soft slabs and wind slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack. 25-30cm of low density snow fell Sunday/Monday in the southern (Coquihalla) area, while northern sections received 7-15cms of new snow. Moderate southwesterly winds redistributed the new snow onto north (east) aspects forming reactive soft slabs. Winds shifted Tuesday to classic outflow (northerly) patterns with moderate winds at ridge top. This pattern has resulted in some 'reverse loading' of southerly slopes and creating wind slabs. Previous cold temperatures from last week and strong winds left our snow surface a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. These older wind slabs (on south - west aspects) remain a concern in our current snowpack and were triggered by skiers on Saturday (see link above). </span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent strong winds (southeast through northeast) have redistributed the 20-40 cm of snow from Friday-Saturday at all elevation bands. This snow sits on a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar (Jan 5/6 layer) and faceted snow. The net result is touchy slabs on wind-loaded features and is giving easy to moderate sudden results in snowpack tests. Below the new snow, a well settled slab sits above the Christmas surface hoar layer which is well preserved in southern areas. This surface hoar is now buried 60-100 cm deep, and is still reactive in sheltered areas and steep open features at and below treeline. Deeper weak layers have only been reactive in areas with thin snowpacks. This includes a facet layer from early December that has been reactive in snowpack tests at lower elevations in the southern part of the region, and weak facets near the ground that have produced avalanches in the northern part of the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm of new snow fell last weekend. Observations have been limited, although I suspect these accumulations have likely been shifted into wind slabs at treeline and in alpine. Snow depth at treeline varies from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m in deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region, and up to 250 cm in the alpine. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak facetted or sugary grains beneath hard slabs. These hard slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak faceted snow crystals near or at the ground. In addition to the facets, a thick layer of buried surface hoar may be found 30-40 cm below the surface. There is another persistent weakness that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 50-70 cm deep. A crust from mid-November may be lurking close to the ground nestled in amongst the facets.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of low density snow fell on Sunday night and Monday. Moderate to strong southwest and then northerly winds have shifted these fresh accumulations into wind slabs at treeline and above. These accumulations have covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of faceted &quot;sugar snow&quot; and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but remains a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be well bonded, but features a crust/facet deep persistent weakness near the ground which remains a concern on rocky features in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 36 cm of low density snow fell on Sunday night and Monday. Moderate to strong southwest and then northerly winds have shifted these fresh accumulations into wind slabs at treeline and above. The new snow has also covered old, thicker wind and hard slabs from previous wind events.</span><span class="s_EB2EB4FA"> </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Persistent and deep persistent weakness in the mid and lower snowpack are giving variable results in snowpack tests, but are expected to be most touchy in shallow snowpack areas. Recent snowpack tests gave moderate but resistant results on facets and/or surface hoar buried mid-December where it was found down 45 cm, and hard but sudden collapse results on the facet/crust weakness buried in November down 116 cm near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm of new snow has buried a highly variable old snow surface. This interface consists of wind scoured surfaces and old wind slabs in exposed terrain, widespread near surface faceting, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and/or a breakable sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions is expected to have redistributed some of this new snow in wind exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In the upper snowpack below the new storm snow, a couple old freezing rain crusts from late-December may exist depending on your location. The mid-December surface hoar layer typically sits down 40-70 cm. This layer is still reactive to snowpack tests in some areas but is currently considered to be dormant or inactive. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another 10cm of new snow in the past 24hrs brings storm snow totals to near 20cm. Variable wind effect in the Alpine, with pockets of fresh wind slab immediately below ridge-crest. The Dec 18th interface is buried 40 to 70cm at Treeline and remains a concern for human triggering. The Nov crust is buried up to 100cm deep and is exhibiting facetting both above and below the crust. At lower elevations the snowpack is weak and unsupportive due to prolonged periods of facetting.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mountains of the South Coast region received 15-20cm of snow Sunday-Monday. The new snow came in wet and heavy (especially in the North Shore mountains) and bonded well to 15 cm of settling snow from Friday's storm.  Watch out for small wind slabs on north-facing slopes in the lee of exposed features. Friday's snow buried a variable interface composed of faceted (sugary) snow and old hard wind slabs (especially at higher elevations). Recent reports suggest the snow has bonded well to this interface. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_DDF6C5E8"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of low density snow fell earlier this week. Moderate to strong southwest and then northerly winds have shifted these fresh accumulations into wind slabs in exposed terrain. Recent snow has covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events.</span><span class="s_DDF6C5E8"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-30 cm of recent snow has buried a variable old snow surface which consisted of wind scoured surfaces or old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions is expected to have redistributed some of this new snow in wind exposed terrain. The layer of facets from mid-December is still reactive to snowpack tests in isolated areas but is generally considered to be dormant during this period of cold, dry conditions. It will be important to watch this layer reacts during the next storm or period of warming.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15-20 cm of recent snow has buried a variable snow surface which consists of wind scoured surfaces, old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent moderate winds from all directions is has redistributed some of this new snow on leeward slopes and behind terrain featu.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak facet layer has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin area than areas closer to Fernie. The layer is generally considered dormant right now but may wake up during the next storm or period of warming. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15-20 cm of recent snow has buried variable old snow surfaces which consists of heavily wind scoured surfaces or old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions is expected to have redistributed some of this new snow on leeward slopes. The mid pack appears to be quite variable throughout the region and the structure is dependant on snow depth. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled and right side up with isolated concerns for the mid-December weak layer. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted and there are concerns for the mid-December weak facet layer as well as weak basal facets. Due to inconsistencies in snowpack structure throughout the region, its a good idea to dig down and test weak layers in your local riding area. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">New snow from Sunday-Monday totalled 18 cm near Whistler while 25-35 cm fell in the upper Callaghan / Powder Mountain area. In the days since the storm, winds shifted to classic outflow (northerly) patterns with strong winds at ridge top. This resulted the new snow being 'reverse loaded' onto southerly slopes as wind slabs and soft slabs. These slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack and our colder-than-usual temperatures mean the upper snowpack will be slower than usual to heal. Deeper in the snowpack, the new snow from Sunday night and also last Friday is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Snowpack layers below this interface are generally well bonded, and the lower snowpack is solid.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">25-30cm of low density snow fell over Sunday and Monday in the southern (Coquihalla) area, while northern sections received 7-15cms of new snow. During the storm, moderate southwesterly winds redistributed the new snow onto north and east aspects, forming reactive soft slabs. After the storm, winds shifted to classic outflow (northerly) patterns with moderate winds at ridge top. This pattern resulted in 'reverse loading' of wind slabs onto southerly slopes. These wind slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack. Below these slabs, a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar can be found, the result of last weeks cold temperatures and strong winds. These older wind slabs (on south to west aspects) remain a concern in our current snowpack with recent cold temperatures having slowed their healing into the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent strong winds (southeast through northeast) have redistributed the 20-40 cm of snow from Friday-Saturday at all elevation bands. This snow sits on a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar (Jan 5/6 layer) and faceted snow. The net result is touchy slabs on wind-loaded features that are giving easy to moderate sudden results in snowpack tests. Below the new snow, a well settled slab sits above the Christmas surface hoar layer which is well preserved in southern areas. This surface hoar is now buried 60-100 cm deep, and is still reactive in sheltered areas and steep open features at and below treeline. Deeper weak layers have only been reactive in areas with thin snowpacks. This includes a facet layer from early December that has been reactive in snowpack tests at lower elevations in the southern part of the region, and weak facets near the ground that have produced avalanches in the northern part of the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm of new snow fell last weekend. Observations have been limited, although the few reports we've received suggest these accumulations have been shifted into wind slabs at treeline and in the alpine. Snow depth at treeline varies from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m in deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak facetted or sugary grains beneath hard slabs. These hard slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak faceted snow crystals near or at the ground. In addition to the facets, a thick layer of buried surface hoar may be found 30-40 cm below the surface. There is another persistent weakness that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 50-70 cm deep. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of low density snow fell on Sunday night and Monday. Moderate to strong southwest and then northerly winds have shifted these fresh accumulations into wind slabs at treeline and above. These accumulations have covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of faceted &quot;sugar snow&quot; and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 36 cm of low density snow fell on Sunday night and Monday. In some areas, moderate to strong southwest and more recent northerly winds have shifted these accumulations into wind slabs at treeline and above.</span><span class="s_EB2EB4FA"> In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">mid-December facet layer lies up to 120cm below the surface. In these areas professionals feel this layer has generally gained considerable strength. That said, I'd carefully investigate this interface before pushing into steeper terrain, especially in shallower snowpack areas where this weakness may show prolonged reactivity. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm of new snow has buried a highly variable old snow surface. This interface consists of wind scoured surfaces and old wind slabs in exposed terrain, widespread near surface faceting, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and/or a breakable sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent moderate to strong winds from a variety of directions is expected to have redistributed some of this new snow into wind slabs in wind exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In the upper snowpack below the new storm snow, a couple old freezing rain crusts from late-December may exist depending on your location. The mid-December surface hoar layer typically sits down 40-70 cm. This layer is still reactive to snowpack tests in some areas but is currently considered to be dormant or inactive. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Variable wind effect in the Alpine, with pockets of fresh wind slab immediately below ridge-crest and in crossloaded features. The Dec 18th interface is buried 40 to 70cm at Treeline and remains a concern for human triggering. The Nov crust is buried up to 100cm deep and is exhibiting facetting both above and below the crust. At lower elevations (2100m and lower in some places!) the snowpack is weak and unsupportive due to prolonged periods of facetting.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mountains of the South Coast region received 15-20cm of snow over Sunday and Monday. The southwest flow of the storm, followed by strong northeast winds over Tuesday resulted in pockets of wind slab being formed on all aspects in exposed areas. A thin rain crust can be found 5cm below the surface at treeline and below. This has limited the wind redistribution at lower elevations. The new wind slabs have already gained considerable strength but could remain reactive on steeper unsupported terrain at higher elevations where this crust does not exist. The new snow came in wet and heavy (especially in the North Shore mountains) and bonded well to 15 cm of settling snow from Friday's storm. Friday's snow buried a variable interface composed of faceted (sugary) snow and old hard wind slabs (especially at higher elevations). Recent reports suggest the snow has bonded well to this interface. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_DDF6C5E8"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of low density snow fell earlier this week. Moderate to strong southwest and then northerly winds have shifted these fresh accumulations into reactive wind slabs on leeward slopes.</span><span class="s_DDF6C5E8"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-30 cm of recent snow has buried variable old snow surfaces. These surfaces consist of wind scoured or old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and/or widespread faceted (sugary) old snow. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions is expected to have redistributed some of this new snow on leeward terrain. The layer of facets from mid-December is still reactive to snowpack tests in isolated areas but is generally considered to be dormant during this period of cold, dry conditions. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20 cm of recent snow has buried a plethora of old snow surfaces which consists of wind scoured surfaces, old wind slabs, surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered terrain, and/or faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent moderate winds from all directions is has redistributed some of this new snow on leeward slopes and behind terrain features.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak facet layer has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin area than areas closer to Fernie. The layer is generally considered dormant at the moment, but its status may change if we head into a warmer, wetter period next week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20 cm of recent snow has buried a variety of old snow surfaces which consist of heavily wind scoured snow and wind slabs, surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions is expected to have redistributed some of this new snow on leeward slopes. The mid pack appears to be quite variable throughout the region and the structure is dependant on snow depth. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled and right side up with isolated concerns for the mid-December weak layer. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted and there are concerns for the mid-December weak facet layer as well as weak basal facets. Due to inconsistencies in snowpack structure region wide, its a good idea to dig down and test weak layers in your local riding area. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wildly variable wind effect is the main story here. In the days since the last storm (Sunday-Monday), winds shifted to classic outflow (northerly) patterns with strong winds at ridge top for 24 hours. By and large this 'reverse loaded' snow in the alpine and also affected treeline elevations too. Touchy windslabs (5-40 cm thick) formed on southerly slopes near ridge crests and roll overs. These slabs are the primary weakness of concern in the snowpack and our colder-than-usual temperatures of late mean the upper snowpack will be slower than usual to heal. Deeper in the snowpack, the new snow from Sunday night and also last Friday is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Snowpack layers below this interface are generally well bonded, and the lower snowpack is solid.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_C9E15120"> The main story is widespread variability due to all the shifting wind patterns, distributing and redistributing snow over the past few weeks. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">25-30cm of low density snow fell over Sunday and Monday in the southern (Coquihalla) area, while northern sections received 7-15cms of new snow. During the storm, moderate southwesterly winds distributed the new snow onto north and east aspects, forming reactive soft slabs. After the storm, winds shifted to classic outflow (northerly) patterns on Tuesday with moderate winds at ridge top. This pattern resulted in 'reverse loading' of wind slabs onto southerly slopes as far down as 2050m in the north (Duffey Lake zone) and 1700m in the south (Coquihalla area). These new, old and variable wind slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack. The older wind slabs from a week ago (on south to west aspects) remain a concern in our current snowpack with recent cold temperatures having slowed their healing into the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent strong winds (southeast through northeast) have redistributed the 20-40 cm of snow from Friday-Saturday at all elevation bands. This snow sits on a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar (Jan 5/6 layer) and faceted snow. The net result is touchy slabs on wind-loaded features that are giving easy to moderate sudden results in snowpack tests. Below the new snow, a well settled slab sits above the Christmas surface hoar layer which is well preserved in southern areas. This surface hoar is now buried 60-100 cm deep, and is still reactive in sheltered areas and steep open features at and below treeline. Deeper weak layers have only been reactive in areas with thin snowpacks. This includes a facet layer from early December that has been reactive in snowpack tests at lower elevations in the southern part of the region, and weak facets near the ground that have produced avalanches in the northern part of the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent wind transport has shifted low density snow into wind slabs at upper elevations. Recently temperatures have been warmer in the alpine than in the valley, which may have made the alpine snow slightly firmer (in sheltered locations - it's already firm where it's been drifted by wind). Snow depth at treeline varies from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m in deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak facetted or sugary grains beneath hard slabs. These hard slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak faceted snow crystals near or at the ground. In addition to the facets, a thick layer of buried surface hoar may be found 30-40 cm below the surface. There is another persistent weakness that formed during the early December cold snap which is now about 50-70 cm deep. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent new snow has been shifted first by southwesterly winds and then by northerly winds. As a result, wind slabs exist on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. These accumulations have covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of faceted &quot;sugar snow&quot; and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region, particularly around Clemina Creek. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent new snow has been shifted by moderate to strong southwest and more recent northerly winds in exposed upper areas.</span><span class="s_EB2EB4FA"> In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">mid-December facet layer lies up to 120cm below the surface. In these areas professionals feel this layer has generally gained considerable strength. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugarbowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. In shallow snowpack areas like those, I'd carefully investigate this interface before pushing into steeper terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20 cm of recent snow has buried a plethora of old snow surface. This interface consists of wind scoured surfaces and old wind slabs, widespread near surface faceting (sugary snow), surface hoar in sheltered locations, and/or a breakable sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent moderate to strong winds from all directions has redistributed some of this new snow into reactive wind slabs on a variety of aspects. Below this exists a couple of old freezing rain crusts from late-December, depending on your location. The mid-December surface hoar/ facet layer typically sits down 40-70 cm. This layer is still reactive to some snowpack tests in some areas but is currently considered to be dormant or inactive. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">Wind effect primarily on lee features and cross loaded areas in Alpine. Some areas have evidence of reverse loading from the northern winds so even look for these slabs on S and W aspects in some areas.&nbsp; Faceted snow pack from top to bottom up to 2400m. Ski penetration to ground up to 2150m in most areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> The mountains of the South Coast region received 15-20cm of snow over Sunday and Monday. The southwest flow of the storm, followed by strong northeast winds on Tuesday resulted in pockets of wind slab being formed on all aspects in exposed areas. A thin rain crust can be found 5cm below the surface at treeline and below. This has limited the wind redistribution at lower elevations. The new wind slabs have already gained considerable strength but could remain reactive on steeper unsupported terrain at higher elevations where this crust does not exist. The new snow came in wet and heavy (especially in the North Shore mountains) and bonded well to 15 cm of settling snow from last Friday's storm. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of low density snow fell earlier this week. Moderate to strong southwest and then northerly winds have shifted these fresh accumulations into reactive wind slabs on leeward slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-30 cm of recent snow has buried variable old snow surfaces. These surfaces consist of wind scoured or old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and widespread faceted (sugary) old snow. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions has redistributed some of this new snow on leeward terrain, building reactive wind slabs. The layer of facets from mid-December is still reactive to snowpack tests in isolated areas but is generally considered to be dormant during this period of cold, dry conditions but its status may change as we head into a warmer, wetter period next week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20 cm of recent snow has buried a plethora of old snow surfaces which consists of wind scoured surfaces, old wind slabs, surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered terrain, and/or faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent moderate winds from all directions is has redistributed some of this new snow on leeward slopes and behind terrain features.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak facet layer has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin area than areas closer to Fernie. The layer is generally considered dormant at the moment especially in deeper snowpack areas, but its status may change if we head into a warmer, wetter period next week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of recent snow has buried a variety of old snow surfaces. These consist of heavily wind scoured areas and old wind slabs, surface hoar in sheltered areas, and widespread faceted (sugary) old snow. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions has redistributed some of this new snow on leeward slopes, forming reactive wind slabs. The mid pack appears to be quite variable throughout the region and the structure is dependent on snow depth. 50-80 cm of consolidated snow sits above the mid-December facets. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled and right side up with isolated concerns for the mid-December weak layer. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted and there are concerns for the mid-December weak facet layer as well as weak basal facets. If a persistent slab is triggered from thinner snowpack areas it may release on the basal facets (full depth avalanche). At this point it seems like a low probability, high consequence scenario. However; once the snowpack starts to see a big change, like warming then the likelihood of triggering may increase.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wildly variable wind effect is the main story here. In the days since the last storm on Sunday-Monday, winds shifted to classic outflow (northerly) patterns with strong winds at ridge top for 24 hours. By and large this 'reverse loaded' snow in the alpine and also affected treeline elevations too. Touchy windslabs (5-40 cm thick) formed on southerly slopes near ridge crests and roll overs. These slabs are the primary weakness of concern in the snowpack and our colder-than-usual temperatures of late mean the upper snowpack will be slower than usual to heal. Deeper in the snowpack, the new snow from Sunday night and also last Friday is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Snowpack layers below this interface are generally well bonded, and the lower snowpack is solid.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The main story is widespread variability due to all the shifting wind patterns, distributing and redistributing snow over the past few weeks. 25-30cm of low density snow fell over Sunday and Monday in the southern (Coquihalla) area, while northern sections received 7-15cms of new snow. During the storm, moderate southwesterly winds distributed the new snow onto north and east aspects, forming reactive soft slabs. After the storm, winds shifted to classic outflow (northerly) patterns on Tuesday with moderate winds at ridge top. This pattern resulted in 'reverse loading' of wind slabs onto southerly slopes as far down as 1850m in the north (Duffey Lake zone) and 1700m in the south (Coquihalla area). These new, old and variable wind slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack. The older wind slabs from a week ago (on south to west aspects) remain a concern in our current snowpack with recent cold temperatures having slowed their healing into the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We've had 15cm new snow on Thursday into Friday near Stewart (and only 3-4 cm near Terrace). Expect this new snow (and all the snow that will come on Saturday) to bond poorly to all the windslabs that formed during the latest arctic outbreak winds. Those strong arctic winds (southeast through northeast) redistributed the 20-40 cm of snow from a week ago at all elevation bands... and it sits on a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar (Jan 5/6 layer) and faceted snow. The net result is touchy slabs on wind-loaded features that are giving easy to moderate sudden results in snowpack tests. Below the new snow, a well settled slab sits above the Christmas surface hoar layer which is well preserved in southern areas. This surface hoar is now buried 60-100 cm deep, and is still reactive in sheltered areas and steep open features at and below treeline. Deeper weak layers have only been reactive in areas with thin snowpacks. This includes a facet layer from early December that has been reactive in snowpack tests at lower elevations in the southern part of the region, and weak facets near the ground that have produced avalanches in the northern part of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">On Saturday, expect 15-40 cm of new snow, which combined with warming temperatures and strong winds will form a widespread storm slab problem. Storm slabs will be extra thick and touchy on wind-loaded features. The new snow is burying a layer of feathery surface hoar crystals, which will allow for wide propagations in the storm snow. Snow depth at treeline varies from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m in deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak faceted or sugary grains beneath hard slabs. With the additional load of the new snow these hard slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak faceted snow crystals near or at the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent new snow has been shifted first by southwesterly winds and then by northerly winds. As a result, wind slabs exist on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. These accumulations have covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A layer of faceted &quot;sugar snow&quot; and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region, particularly around Clemina Creek. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent new snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong southwest and more recent northerly winds in exposed upper areas. In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer lies up to 120 cm below the surface. In these areas professionals feel this layer has generally gained considerable strength. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugarbowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with a thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. In shallow snowpack areas like those, I'd carefully investigate this interface before pushing into steeper terrain.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20 cm of recent snow has buried a plethora of old snow surface. This interface consists of wind scoured surfaces and old wind slabs, widespread near surface faceting (sugary snow), surface hoar in sheltered locations, and/or a breakable sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent moderate to strong winds from all directions has redistributed some of this new snow into reactive wind slabs on a variety of aspects. Below this exists a couple of old freezing rain crusts from late-December, depending on your location. The mid-December surface hoar/ facet layer typically sits down 40-70 cm. This layer is still reactive to some snowpack tests in some areas but is currently considered to be dormant or inactive. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">However; once the snowpack starts to see a big change, like warming then the likelihood of triggering may increase.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">Windslabs should be expected in Alpine terrain along ridgelines and in crossloaded gully features.  These slabs have become slightly more dense over the past 24hrs due to the sw winds beginning to increase at higher elevations.  Ski cutting on Thursday on a steep S aspect was priducing minor cracking but releases.  Below the upper snowpack windslabs there is a midpack that consists mainly of facets.  The Nov 12th crust has began to facet out and decompose in many areas.  As a result of the poor base, any avalanche that is intitiated in the upper snowpack will likely involve the entire snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> The mountains of the South Coast region received 15-20cm of snow over Sunday and Monday. The southwest flow of the storm, followed by strong northeast winds on Tuesday resulted in pockets of wind slab being formed on all exposed aspects at higher elevations. A thick crust can be found 5-10cm below the surface at treeline and below, and has limited the wind redistribution at lower elevations. The new wind slabs have already gained considerable strength but could remain reactive on steeper unsupported terrain at higher elevations where this crust does not exist. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 10mm in size in some areas. Reports also exist of a sun crust beginning to form on steep solar aspects. Below the surface, up to 30 cm of low density snow fell earlier this week. During and in the days after the storm, moderate to strong southwest and then northerly winds shifted this snow into reactive wind slabs on leeward slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15 to 30 cm of recent snow has been formed into reactive wind slabs on a variety of aspects. These new wind slabs rest on an old surface consisting of ageing wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and widespread &quot;sugary&quot; facets. The layer of facets from mid-December is still reactive to snowpack tests in isolated areas but is generally considered to be dormant during this period of cold, dry conditions. This may change as the air temperature begins to rise as warm air floods into the region next week. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20 cm of recent storm snow has buried a plethora of old surfaces (wind scoured, old wind slabs, surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered terrain, and/or faceted old snow.) M</span><span class="s_3FE45715">oderate winds from all directions have formed widespread wind slabs which can be found on lee slopes and behind mid-slope terrain features.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak layer of facets has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin area than areas closer to Fernie. The layer is generally considered dormant at the moment in deeper snowpack areas, but its status may change as the temperatures warm next week. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of recent snow has buried a variety of old snow surfaces. These consist of heavily wind scoured areas and old wind slabs, surface hoar in sheltered areas, and widespread faceted (sugary) old snow. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions have redistributed some of this new snow on leeward slopes, forming reactive wind slabs. The mid pack appears to be quite variable throughout the region and the structure is dependent on snow depth. 50 to 80 cm of consolidated snow sits above the mid-December facets. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled and right side up with isolated concerns for the mid-December weak layer. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted and there are concerns for the mid-December weak facet layer as well as weak basal facets. If a persistent slab is triggered from thinner snowpack areas it may release on the basal facets resulting in a full depth avalanche. At this point it seems like a low probability, high consequence scenario. However; once the snowpack starts to see a big change, like warming, the likelihood of triggering may increase.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wildly variable wind effect is the main story here. In the days since the last storm on Sunday-Monday, winds shifted to classic outflow (northerly) patterns with strong winds at ridge top for 24 hours. By and large this 'reverse loaded' snow in the alpine and also affected treeline elevations too. Touchy windslabs (5-40 cm thick) formed on southerly slopes near ridge crests and roll overs. These slabs are the primary weakness of concern in the snowpack and our colder-than-usual temperatures of late mean the upper snowpack will be slower than usual to heal. Deeper in the snowpack, the new snow from Sunday night and also last Friday is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Snowpack layers below this interface are generally well bonded, and the lower snowpack is solid.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The main story is widespread variability due to all the shifting wind patterns, distributing and redistributing snow over the past few weeks. 25-30cm of low density snow fell over Sunday and Monday in the southern (Coquihalla) area, while northern sections received 7-15cms of new snow. During the storm, moderate southwesterly winds distributed the new snow onto north and east aspects, forming reactive soft slabs. After the storm, winds shifted to classic outflow (northerly) patterns on Tuesday with moderate winds at ridge top. This pattern resulted in 'reverse loading' of wind slabs onto southerly slopes as far down as 1850m in the north (Duffey Lake zone) and 1700m in the south (Coquihalla area). These new, old and variable wind slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack. The older wind slabs from a week ago (on south to west aspects) remain a concern in our current snowpack with recent cold temperatures having slowed their healing into the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We've had a significant warming trend since the arctic outbreak, and a large storm snowfall gradient (10-15cm in the south ; 50cm near Stewart). Expect this new snow to bond poorly to all the windslabs (and a spotty layer of surface hoar and facets buried Jan 12th)  that formed during last week's arctic outbreak conditions. Those strong arctic winds (southeast through northeast) redistributed the 20-40 cm of snow from a week ago at all elevation bands... and it sits on a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar (Jan 5/6 layer) and faceted snow. With the recent new snow loading, the deeper slabs are expected to remain touchy, especially on southwest facing wind-loaded features. Deeper in the snowpack, the Christmas surface hoar layer (buried 70-120 cm) is still preserved in some southern areas and might still be reactive in sheltered areas and steep open features at treeline. Deeper weak layers (early December facets) have only been reactive in areas with thin snowpacks. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">5 to 30 cm of snow fell Friday night into Saturday accompanied by light to moderate southwest wind and warm temperatures. This new snow is expected to form a widespread storm slab problem that should be very touchy on lee features at all elevations. The new snow is burying a layer of feathery surface hoar crystals, which will likely allow for wide propagations in the storm snow. Snow depth at treeline varies from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m in deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak faceted or sugary grains beneath hard slabs. With the additional load of new snow these hard slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak faceted snow crystals near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 10mm in size in protected areas. Below this surface, our recent new snow was shifted first by southwesterly winds and then by northerly winds. As a result, wind slabs exist on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. These accumulations have covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events. A layer of faceted &quot;sugar snow&quot; and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region, particularly around Clemina Creek. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 7mm in size below treeline. Below the surface, recent new snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong southwest and more recent northerly winds in exposed upper areas. In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer lies up to 120 cm below the surface. In these areas, professionals feel this layer has generally gained considerable strength. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugarbowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with a thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. In shallow snowpack areas such as these, careful evaluation of this facet layer is a prerequisite to any push into steeper terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 15mm in size below treeline. A sun crust has also been reported forming on steep solar aspects. Below the surface, u</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">p to 20 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong winds from all directions, forming reactive wind slabs on a variety of aspects. The recent snow buried a plethora of old snow surfaces, including wind scoured surfaces and old wind slabs, widespread near surface faceting (sugary snow), surface hoar in sheltered locations, and/or a breakable sun crust on steep solar aspects. The mid-December surface hoar/ facet layer typically sits down 40-70 cm. This layer is still reactive to some snowpack tests in some areas but is currently considered to be dormant or inactive. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">However, once the snowpack starts to see a big change, like warming, the likelihood of triggering may increase.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">Variable depth wind slabs are found in Alpine terrain along ridgelines and in cross-loaded gully features. Snowpack tests today indicate failures in the moderate range down 35cm, as well as on the Nov crust layer buried deeply in the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555"> Much of the snowpack is very weak and facetted, especially at lower elevations. Any avalanche that is initiated in the upper snowpack will likely step down and involve the entire snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We've had some sunshine and warm temperatures (as high as +6 on Grouse mountain) at higher elevations on Saturday. Expect to find a lovely sun crust on solar (south) aspects. Earlier in the week, pockets of wind slab formed on exposed aspects at higher elevations. A thick crust can be found 5-10cm below the surface at treeline and below, and has limited the wind redistribution at lower elevations. The new wind slabs have already gained considerable strength but could remain reactive on steeper unsupported terrain at alpine elevations where this crust does not exist. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 10mm in size in some areas. Reports also exist of a sun crust beginning to form on steep solar aspects. Below the surface, up to 30 cm of low density snow fell earlier this week. During and in the days after the storm, moderate to strong southwest and then northerly winds shifted this snow into reactive wind slabs on leeward slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15 to 30 cm of recent snow has formed reactive wind slabs on a variety of aspects. These wind slabs rest on an old surface consisting of old wind slabs in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered terrain, and widespread &quot;sugary&quot; facets. The layer of facets from mid-December is still reactive to snowpack tests in isolated areas, but is generally considered to be dormant during this period of cold, dry conditions. This may change as the air temperature begins to rise as warm air floods into the region Monday night.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20 cm of recent storm snow has buried a plethora of old surfaces (wind scoured, old wind slabs, surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered terrain, and/or faceted old snow). M</span><span class="s_3FE45715">oderate winds from all directions have formed widespread wind slabs which can be found on lee slopes and behind mid-slope terrain features.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak layer of facets has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin area than areas closer to Fernie. The layer is generally considered dormant at the moment in deeper snowpack areas, but its status may change as the temperatures warm this week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of recent snow has buried a variety of old snow surfaces. These consist of heavily wind scoured areas and old wind slabs, surface hoar in sheltered areas, and widespread faceted (sugary) old snow. Recent moderate winds from a variety of directions have redistributed some of this new snow on leeward slopes, forming reactive wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid pack appears to be quite variable throughout the region and the structure is dependent on snow depth. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled and right side up with isolated concerns for the mid-December weak layer found 50 to 80 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted and there are concerns for the mid-December weak facet layer as well as weak basal facets. If a persistent slab is triggered from thinner snowpack areas it may release on the basal facets resulting in a full depth avalanche. At this point it seems like a low probability, high consequence scenario. However; once the snowpack starts to see a big change, like warming, the likelihood of triggering may increase.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We have wildly variable surface conditions due to wind and sun effect. The pleasant warm weather this weekend resulted in a sun crust on steep solar (south) aspects. Last week, strong winds 'reverse loaded' snow in the alpine and also affected treeline elevations too. Touchy wind slabs (5-40 cm thick) formed on southerly slopes near ridge crests and roll-overs. These slabs are the primary weakness of concern in the snowpack, giving easy sudden planar results in snowpack tests. Deeper in the snowpack, older snow is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Snowpack layers below this interface are generally well bonded, and the lower snowpack is solid.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We have widespread variability in the surface snow conditions due to all the shifting wind patterns, and the sunshine this weekend. The pleasant warm weather this weekend resulted in a sun crust on steep solar (south) aspects. During last week's arctic outbreak, we had 'reverse loading' of storm snow - forming wind slabs on southerly slopes as far down as 1850m in the north (Duffey Lake zone) and 1700m in the south (Coquihalla area). These new, old and variable wind slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack and will likely remain problematic when loaded with the incoming new snow. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We've had a significant warming trend since the arctic outbreak, and a large storm snowfall gradient (15-30cm in the south ; 50-70cm near Stewart). The new snow fell with moderate to strong SW winds, and formed touchy soft slabs and wind slabs. Expect this new snow to bond poorly to all the windslabs (and a spotty layer of surface hoar and facets buried Jan 12th) that formed during last week's arctic outbreak conditions. The older wind slabs sit on a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar (Jan 5/6 layer) and faceted snow. If you're starting to think it's a dog's breakfast, you're right! With the recent new snow loading, the deeper slabs are expected to remain reactive, especially on southwest facing features near ridge crests. Deeper in the snowpack, the Christmas surface hoar layer (buried 70-120 cm) is still preserved in some southern areas and might still be reactive in sheltered areas and steep open features at treeline. Deeper weak layers (early December facets) have only been reactive in areas with thin snowpacks.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A steady pulse of storms will continue to build reactive storms slabs throughout the region. Expect another 10-20 cm of new snow by Monday morning, bringing storm snow totals anywhere from 20-40 cm in the southern parts of the region up to 80 cm in the northern parts of the region. With strong winds and rising freezing levels, expect touchy storm slabs throughout the week. The new snow has buried a layer of feathery surface hoar crystals, which will likely allow for wide propagations in the storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snow depths at treeline vary from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m in deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak faceted or sugary grains beneath hard slabs. With the additional load of new snow these hard slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak faceted snow crystals near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 10mm in size in protected areas. Below this surface, our recent new snow was shifted first by southwesterly winds and then by northerly winds. As a result, wind slabs exist on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. These accumulations have covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events. A layer of faceted &quot;sugar snow&quot; and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region, particularly around Clemina Creek. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 7mm in size in sheltered areas below treeline. Below the surface, our recent storm snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southwest and more recent northerly winds in exposed upper areas. In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer lies up to 120 cm below the surface. In these areas, professionals feel this layer has generally gained considerable strength. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugarbowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with a thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. In shallow snowpack areas such as these, recent cold temperatures have had the effect of weakening the entire snowpack, not just its upper layers. A careful evaluation of this facet layer is strongly advised before to any push into steeper terrain in a shallow snowpack area.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 15mm in size below treeline. A sun crust has also been reported forming on steep solar aspects. Below the surface, u</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">p to 20 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong winds from all directions, forming reactive wind slabs on a variety of aspects. The recent snow buried a plethora of old snow surfaces, including wind scoured surfaces and old wind slabs, widespread near surface faceting (sugary snow), surface hoar in sheltered locations, and/or a breakable sun crust on steep solar aspects. The mid-December surface hoar/ facet layer typically sits down 40-70 cm. This layer is still reactive to some snowpack tests in some areas but is currently considered to be dormant or inactive. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">However, once the snowpack starts to see a big change, like warming, the likelihood of triggering may increase.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">Variable depth wind slabs are found in Alpine terrain and just down into Treeline. Recent snowpack tests indicate failures in the moderate range down 35cm, as well as on the Nov crust layer buried deeply in the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555"> Much of the snowpack is very weak and facetted, especially at lower elevations. Any avalanche that is initiated in the upper snowpack will likely step down and involve the entire snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We've had some sunshine and warm temperatures (as high as +6 on Grouse mountain on Saturday) through the weekend. Expect to find a lovely sun crust on solar (south) aspects. Earlier in the week, pockets of wind slab formed on exposed aspects at higher elevations. A thick crust can be found 5-10cm below the surface at treeline and below, and has limited the wind redistribution at lower elevations. The new wind slabs have already gained considerable strength but could remain reactive on steeper unsupported terrain at alpine elevations where this crust does not exist. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new storm is arriving overnight. Storm slabs are expected to develop above existing weak layers. I have left the previous snowpack description that describes what the new snow will be landing on. Recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 10mm in size in some areas. Reports also exist of a sun crust beginning to form on steep solar aspects. Below the surface, up to 30 cm of low density snow fell earlier this week. During and in the days after the storm, moderate to strong southwest and then northerly winds shifted this snow into reactive wind slabs on leeward slopes. The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect 10-20 cm of new snow on Tuesday with greater accumulations in the northern part of the region. The new snow, wind, and warming will build touchy storm slabs that will be extra thick and reactive on wind-loaded features. In sheltered areas, the new snow is burying a layer of feathery surface hoar that may produce surprisingly wide propagations. The main concern deeper in the snowpack is a layer of sugary facets from mid-December that can be found between 50 and 100 cm deep. This layer was considered dormant during the recent cold weather, but may become reactive as warm temperatures soften the overlying slab.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Increasing winds are causing widespread wind affect in exposed alpine and treeline terrain and forming touchy wind slabs on lee features. Last week, 20 cm of low density snow buried a plethora of old surfaces (wind scoured, old wind slabs, surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered terrain, and/or faceted old snow). Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak layer of facets has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin area than areas closer to Fernie. The layer is generally considered dormant at the moment in deeper snowpack areas, but its status may change as the temperatures warm throughout the week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Increasing winds are causing widespread wind affect in exposed alpine and treeline terrain and forming reactive wind slabs on lee features. The mid pack is quite variable throughout the region and the structure depends on snow depth. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled and right side up with isolated concerns for the mid-December facet layer found 50 to 80 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted and there are concerns for the mid-December weak facet layer as well as weak basal facets. If a persistent slab is triggered from thinner snowpack areas it may release on the basal facets resulting in a full depth avalanche. Triggering these deeper weak layers will become more likely this week as warm temperatures soften the overlying slab.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Before the incoming Monday storm, we had wildly variable surface conditions due to wind and sun effect. The pleasant warm weather this weekend resulted in a sun crust on steep solar (south) aspects. Last week, strong winds 'reverse loaded' snow in the alpine and also affected treeline elevations too. Touchy wind slabs (5-40 cm thick) formed on southerly slopes near ridge crests and roll-overs. These slabs were the primary weakness of concern in the snowpack, giving easy sudden planar results in snowpack tests. Deeper in the snowpack, older snow is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Snowpack layers below this interface are generally well bonded, and the lower snowpack is solid.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We have widespread variability in the surface snow conditions due to all the shifting wind patterns, and the sunshine this weekend. The pleasant warm weather this weekend resulted in a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects below 1650m. During last week's arctic outbreak, we had 'reverse loading' of storm snow - forming wind slabs on southerly slopes as far down as 1850m in the north (Duffey Lake zone) and 1700m in the south (Coquihalla area). These new, old and variable wind slabs are the primary weaknesses of concern in the snowpack and will likely remain problematic when loaded with the incoming new snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> We've had a significant warming trend since the arctic outbreak, and a large storm snowfall gradient (25-35cm in the south ; 60-80cm near Stewart). The new snow fell with moderate to strong SW winds, and formed touchy soft slabs and wind slabs. Expect this new snow to bond poorly to all the windslabs (and a spotty layer of surface hoar and facets buried Jan 12th) that formed during last week's arctic outbreak conditions. The older wind slabs sit on a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar (Jan 5/6 layer) and faceted snow. If you're starting to think it's a dog's breakfast, you're right! With the recent new snow loading, the deeper slabs have remained reactive, especially on southwest facing features near ridge crests. Deeper in the snowpack, the Christmas surface hoar layer (buried 70-120 cm) is still preserved in some southern areas and has been reactive in sheltered areas and steep open features at treeline and below treeline. Lower elevations (below treeline) have moist snow below 1000m elevation, making for heavy and difficult riding.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Expect another 10-20 cm of new snow by Tuesday, bringing recent storm snow totals to 20-40 cm in the southern part of the region. With strong winds and rising freezing levels, expect touchy storm slabs throughout the week. The new snow has buried a layer of feathery surface hoar crystals, which will allow for wide propagations in the storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snow depths at treeline vary from about 1 m in most areas to 2 m in deeper snowpack areas in the south and west of the region. The shallow snowpack areas mostly consist of weak faceted or sugary grains beneath hard slabs. With the additional load of new snow and rain, these hard slabs may produce surprisingly long fractures resulting in large avalanches, and in some instances they may step down to weak faceted snow near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The forecast new storm is expected to arrive overnight. I have left this description in to remind you what the storm snow is landing on. Cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 10mm in size in protected areas. Below this surface, our recent new snow was shifted first by southwesterly winds and then by northerly winds. As a result, wind slabs exist on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. These accumulations have covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events. A layer of faceted &quot;sugar snow&quot; and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region, particularly around Clemina Creek. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">I have left this previous description in to remind you of what may exist below the forecast new snow. Recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 7mm in size in sheltered areas below treeline. Below the surface, our recent storm snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southwest and more recent northerly winds in exposed upper areas. In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer lies up to 120 cm below the surface. In these areas, professionals feel this layer has generally gained considerable strength. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugarbowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with a thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. In shallow snowpack areas such as these, recent cold temperatures have had the effect of weakening the entire snowpack, not just its upper layers. A careful evaluation of this facet layer is strongly advised before to any push into steeper terrain in a shallow snowpack area.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new storm is arriving overnight and expected to intensify during the day. Expect new storm slabs to develop above existing weak layers described here. Recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 15mm in size below treeline. A sun crust has also been reported forming on steep solar aspects. Below the surface, u</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">p to 20 cm of recent snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong winds from all directions, forming reactive wind slabs on a variety of aspects. The recent snow buried a plethora of old snow surfaces, including wind scoured surfaces and old wind slabs, widespread near surface faceting (sugary snow), surface hoar in sheltered locations, and/or a breakable sun crust on steep solar aspects. The mid-December surface hoar/ facet layer typically sits down 40-70 cm. This layer is still reactive to some snowpack tests in some areas but is currently considered to be dormant or inactive. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">However, once the snowpack starts to see a big change, like warming, the likelihood of triggering may increase.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">Wind slabs up to 35cm deep are found in various areas of the Alpine from lee-, cross-, and reverse-loading. These slabs are also found in isolated areas at Treeline. Snowpack tests continue to indicate failures in the moderate range down 35cm, as well as on the Nov crust layer buried deeply in the snowpack. Overall the snowpack is very weak and facetted, especially at lower elevations. Avalanches initiated in the upper snowpack will likely step down and involve the entire snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> We had some sunshine and warm temperatures (as high as +6 on Grouse mountain on Saturday) through the weekend. A widespread melt-freeze crust formed on most aspects and elevations at treeline and below. In the same elevation band, a thick crust can be found 5-10cm below the surface, which has kept the snowpack quite stable. Higher up in the alpine, old wind slabs from last week could remain reactive on steeper unsupported terrain. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New storm slabs are developing due to loading from new snow and wind. These storm slabs are sitting on variable old surfaces including surface hoar and wind slabs that developed during the recent cold and clear weather. Reports also exist of a sun crust that formed on steep solar aspects. Below the old surface, up to 30 cm of low density snow fell last week, that was transported by shifting winds resulting in wind slabs on several aspects. The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect 10-20 cm of new snow Tuesday night into Wednesday with greater accumulations in the southern part of the region. The new snow, wind, and warming will build touchy storm slabs that will be extra thick and reactive on wind-loaded features. In sheltered areas, the new snow is burying a layer of feathery surface hoar that may produce surprisingly wide propagations. The main concern deeper in the snowpack is a layer of sugary facets from mid-December that can be found between 50 and 100 cm deep. This layer was considered dormant during the recent cold weather, but may become reactive as warm temperatures soften the overlying slab.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent winds have caused widespread wind affect in exposed alpine and tree line terrain forming touchy wind slabs on lee features. These are now buried by a blanket of new snow. Last week's 20 cm of low density snow buried a variety of old surfaces (wind scoured, old wind slabs, surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered terrain, and/or faceted old snow). Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak layer of facets has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin area than areas closer to Fernie. The layer is generally considered dormant at the moment in deeper snowpack areas, but its status may change as the temperatures warm throughout the week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent widespread wind affect in exposed alpine and treeline terrain has formed reactive wind slabs on lee features. The mid pack is quite variable throughout the region and the structure depends on snow depth. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled and right side up with isolated concerns for the mid-December facet layer found 50 to 80 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted and there are concerns for the mid-December weak facet layer as well as weak basal facets. If a persistent slab is triggered from thinner snowpack areas it may release on the basal facets resulting in a full depth avalanche. Triggering these deeper weak layers will become more likely this week as warm temperatures soften the overlying slab.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The simplified take on the snowpack: We have rapid loading of suspect layers which will cause avalanches. It's best to avoid avalanche terrain during this time and let the storm (and avalanche) cycle run its course and check back in on Thursday afternoon.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The detailed take on the snowpack: On Monday into Tuesday we had rain up to 2200m near Whistler (and 8cm snow).  Other zones like the upper Callaghan got 35cm snow! The rain (or snow high in the alpine) started to saturate and load a wide variety of surface conditions. Simply put, the upper snowpack is extremely variable: Last week we had very touchy wind slabs (5-40 cm thick) forming on southerly slopes near ridge crests and roll-overs. These slabs were the primary weakness of concern in the snowpack, giving easy sudden planar results in snowpack tests. Deeper in the snowpack, older snow is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Snowpack layers below this interface are generally well bonded, and the lower snowpack is solid.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Sunday night into Monday defied the forecasts and we had a huge snowfall gradient across the region: Manning got 0cm ; the Coquihalla got 12mm rain ; the Duffey got 35cm snow and to cap it off Tenquille Lake got 50cm snow! This new precipitation fell on a wide variety of surface snow conditions:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">IN THE SOUTH (COQUIHALLA): There was a widespread melt-freeze crust up to 1650m (which probably got soaked with rain). From ridge top down to 1700m there are multiple wind slab layers on southerly aspects from the arctic outbreak events in December &amp; January. These lingering wind slabs will likely remain reactive with the incoming precipitation (whether it falls as rain or snow) so use extra caution in your terrain choice. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">IN THE NORTH (DUFFEY LAKE RD): The melt-freeze crust from the weekend was limited to steep solar (south) aspects. Wind slabs were found on a variety of aspects (primarily southerly) as far down as 1850m. All the new snow (35cm+) in this zone is not expected to bond well to the old snow interfaces.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> We've had a significant warming trend since the arctic outbreak, and a large storm snowfall gradient (30-40cm in the south ; 60-80cm near Stewart). The new snow fell with moderate to strong SW winds, and formed touchy soft slabs and wind slabs. Expect this new snow to bond poorly to all the windslabs (and a spotty layer of surface hoar and facets buried Jan 12th) that formed during last week's arctic outbreak conditions. The older wind slabs sit on a variable interface composed of hard wind slabs, weak surface hoar (Jan 5/6 layer) and faceted snow. If you're starting to think it's a dog's breakfast, you're right! With the recent new snow loading, the deeper slabs have remained reactive, especially on southwest facing features near ridge crests. Deeper in the snowpack, the Christmas surface hoar layer (buried 70-120 cm) is still preserved in some southern areas and has been reactive in sheltered areas and steep open features at treeline and below treeline. Lower elevations (below treeline) have moist snow below 1000m elevation, making for heavy and difficult riding.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-15 cm of new snow now sits on a mix of old surfaces left behind after the recent cold and windy weather. Expect the new storm snow to bond poorly where it is sitting on a weak layer of buried surface hoar and/or a hard old wind polished surface. Most areas continue to have a shallow and weak snowpack that is about 100-140 cm at treeline. In general, the snowpack above treeline has been heavily wind effected; this has resulted in hard wind slabs above weak facettted crystals. The snowpack below treeline in sheltered areas may be unconsolidated with foot penetration close to the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow continues to develop storm slabs on all aspects and at all elevations. These new storm slabs are sitting on variable old surfaces that include surface hoar, and hard wind slabs. Before the storm, recent cold and clear weather had promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 10mm in size in protected areas. Below this surface, our recent new snow was shifted first by southwesterly winds and then by northerly winds. As a result, wind slabs exist on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. These accumulations have covered old, thicker wind slabs from previous wind events. A layer of faceted &quot;sugar snow&quot; and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region, particularly around Clemina Creek. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new storm brought variable snow fall amounts to this region overnight. Chappel creek had 35 cm and near Blue River there was 24cm reported. The developing storm slab is expected to be sensitive to light additional loads, and may release naturally with continued loading from new snow and wind. Previous to the new storm, recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 7mm in size in sheltered areas below treeline. Below the surface, our recent storm snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southwest and more recent northerly winds in exposed upper areas. In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer lies up to 120 cm below the surface. In these areas, professionals feel this layer has generally gained considerable strength. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugarbowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with a thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A storm is arriving overnight Tuesday and expected to intensify during the day on Wednesday. Expect new storm slabs to develop above existing weak layers described here. Recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 15mm in size below treeline. A sun crust has also been reported forming on steep solar aspects. Beneath </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">a variety of old snow surfaces are buried, including wind scoured surfaces and old wind slabs, widespread near surface faceting (sugary snow), surface hoar in sheltered locations, and/or a breakable sun crust on steep solar aspects. The mid-December surface hoar/ facet layer typically sits down 40-70 cm. This layer is still reactive to some snowpack tests in some areas but is currently considered to be dormant or inactive. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">However, once the snowpack starts to see a big change, like warming, the likelihood of triggering may increase.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Trace amounts of new snow have fallen in the past 24hrs and very light flurries were falling this afternoon. The snowpack is settling due to the recent warm temperatures. Surface snow was moist on solar aspects up to 2100m and this may extend higher in elevation (this is unconfirmed). Intense snow transport was observed at ridge crest and it is very likely that further wind slab development has occurred in the Alpine. The remainder of the snowpack remains weak and facetted, and it is likely that an avalanche initiating in the upper snowpack will steep down to the basal layers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The rains have begun to saturate the snowpack up to alpine elevations. This includes a widespread melt-freeze crust which formed over the weekend on most aspects and elevations at treeline and below. In the same elevation band, a thick crust can be found 5-10cm below the surface, which has kept the snowpack quite stable. Higher up in the alpine, old wind slabs from last week could remain reactive on steeper unsupported terrain, especially if loaded by new snow or saturated by rain. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New storm slabs have developed due to loading from new snow and wind. These storm slabs are sitting on variable old surfaces including surface hoar and wind slabs that developed during the recent cold and clear weather along with a sun crust that formed on steep solar aspects. Below, the mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered. Particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of new snow accumulation, wind, and warming have built touchy wind slabs on wind-loaded features. In sheltered areas, the new snow is burying a layer of feathery surface hoar that may produce surprisingly wide propagations. The main concern deeper in the snowpack is a layer of sugary facets from mid-December that can be found between 50 and 100 cm deep. This layer was considered dormant during the recent cold weather, but may become reactive as warm temperatures soften the overlying slab.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10 cm overnight combined with another 10 cm during the day on Wednesday has developed storm slabs at higher elevations. Recent winds have caused widespread wind affect in exposed alpine and tree line terrain forming touchy wind slabs on lee features. These are now buried by a blanket of new snow. Last week's 20 cm of low density snow buried a variety of old surfaces (wind scoured, old wind slabs, surface hoar up to 20 mm in sheltered terrain, and/or faceted old snow). Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak layer of facets has been more prominent and reactive in the Corbin area than areas closer to Fernie. The layer is generally considered dormant at the moment in deeper snowpack areas, but its status may change as the temperatures warm throughout the week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent widespread wind affect in exposed alpine and treeline terrain has formed reactive wind slabs on lee features. The mid pack is quite variable throughout the region and the structure depends on snow depth. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled and right side up with isolated concerns for the mid-December facet layer found 50 to 80 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted and there are concerns for the mid-December weak facet layer as well as weak basal facets. If a persistent slab is triggered from thinner snowpack areas it may release on the basal facets resulting in a full depth avalanche. Triggering these deeper weak layers will become more likely this week as warm temperatures soften the overlying slab.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Rapid snow, wind and rain loading continues with fluctuating freezing levels. By Wednesday morning freezing levels had dropped, and another 30 cm or more of new snow fell as low as treeline elevations, with extreme southerly winds in the alpine. On Monday into Tuesday we had rain up to 2200m near Whistler, while in other zones like the upper Callaghan it was 35 cm or more of fresh snow. The rain (or snow high in the alpine) started to saturate and load a wide variety of previous surface conditions. Simply put, the upper snowpack is extremely variable: Last week we had very touchy wind slabs (5-40 cm thick) forming on southerly slopes near ridge crests and roll-overs. These slabs were the primary weakness of concern in the snowpack, giving easy sudden planar results in snowpack tests. Deeper in the snowpack, older snow is bonding fairly well to a variable surface consisting of a mix of soft wind slabs, hard wind slabs, sastrugi, faceted snow, and even some surface hoar. Snowpack layers below this interface are generally well bonded, and the lower snowpack is solid.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): Heavy rain up to treeline elevations is likely soaking a previous surface crust that extended up to 1650m or multiple wind slab layers on southerly aspects from the arctic outbreak events in December &amp; January. These lingering wind slabs will likely remain reactive with the incoming precipitation (whether it falls as rain or snow) so use extra caution in your terrain choice. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): By Wednesday morning abother 35 cm of fresh snow added to the previous 35-50 cm, which was all redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds. This has resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">There is 40-60 cm of storm snow in the south of the region that has been transported by strong southwest winds in the alpine and at treeline over the past few days. The freezing level has been around 1200 metres, and below this level the snowpack is moist or wet. It is cooler in the north, and the storm totals were between 60-80 cm with significant wind transport. As the storm snow settles into a slab, we are concerned that several of the weak surface hoar or facet interfaces that developed during cold and clear weather may become reactive. The January 5th layer is down 50-80 cm , and the December 25th is now down close to 100 cm in deeper snowpack areas. These are not typical conditions for this coastal region, and it may take some time to gain confidence regarding the distribution and likelihood of triggering these deeply buried weak layers. Areas exposed to cornice fall should be avoided due to the possibility of a cornice triggering a deep weak layer. Below treeline the snow is moist or wet and may be easily triggered as a loose wet avalanche in steep terrain. I suggest a conservative approach to terrain while gathering info after the storm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">20-25 cm of new storm snow that has been transported by the southwest winds now sits on a mix of old surfaces left behind after the recent cold and windy weather. Expect the new storm snow to bond poorly where it is sitting on a weak layer of buried surface hoar and/or a hard old wind polished surface. Most areas continue to have a shallow and weak snowpack that is about 120-150 cm at treeline. In general, the snowpack above treeline has been heavily wind effected; this has resulted in hard wind slabs above weak facettted crystals. The snowpack below treeline in sheltered areas may be unconsolidated with foot penetration close to the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow continues to develop storm slabs on all aspects and at all elevations. These new storm slabs are sitting on variable old surfaces that include surface hoar, and hard wind slabs. Before the storm, recent cold and clear weather had promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 10mm in size in protected areas. Below this surface, our recent new snow was shifted first by southwesterly winds and then by northerly winds. As a result, buried wind slabs exist on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. A layer of faceted &quot;sugar snow&quot; and spotty surface hoar which formed during December's cold snap now lies roughly 1 metre below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region, particularly around Clemina Creek. I'd continue to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most recent storm brought variable snow fall amounts to this region. The storm slab is expected to be sensitive to light additional loads, and may release naturally with continued loading from new snow and wind. Previous to the new storm, recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that has been reported to be up to 7mm in size in sheltered areas below treeline. Below the surface, our recent storm snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southwest and more recent northerly winds in exposed upper areas. In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer lies up to 120 cm below the surface. In these areas, professionals feel this layer has generally gained considerable strength. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugarbowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with a thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Wednesday morning 15-25 cm of fresh snow had fallen across the region accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds. This has resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> The mid-December surface hoar/ facet layer is now likely down 50-90 cm and may become reactive again with continued loading and warming</span><span class="s_3FE45715">. In thin rocky areas, particularly in the Rossland range, recent reports include easy sudden collapse snowpack test results on facets down 120-150 cm near the ground. This deep persistent weakness may also become reactive with continued loading and warming.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Heavy rain is saturating the snowpack up to alpine elevations. Crusts on and just below the snow surface have kept the snowpack quite stable and will continue to do so once the temperatures drop below freezing again. Higher up in the alpine, old wind slabs from last week could remain reactive on steeper unsupported terrain, especially if loaded by new snow or saturated by rain. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent new snow and moderate to strong southwest winds have developed storm and wind slabs. These have buried a variety of old surfaces including surface hoar, facets, sun crust on steep solar aspects and wind slabs. Below, the mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered. Particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-30 cm of new snow accumulation, wind and warming have built wind slabs on wind-loaded features. In sheltered areas, the new snow has possibly buried a layer of feathery surface hoar. The main concern deeper in the snowpack is a layer of sugary facets from mid-December that can be found between 50 and 100 cm deep. This layer was considered dormant during the recent cold weather, but may still become reactive with the recent warm temperatures.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A warm wet storm has delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m. The new snow has formed a widespread storm slab problem at higher elevations and a loose wet problem at lower elevations. Thicker storm slabs can be found on wind-loaded northeast slopes. Two layers of surface hoar that formed in early January exist in isolated sheltered areas and are now buried about 40 cm deep. Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-December persistent weak layer of facets can be found buried about a metre deep and is generally considered dormant, but its status could change with ongoing warming.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent flurries and winds have formed thin wind slabs on lee features in exposed terrain at all elevations. The lower snowpack is quite variable throughout the region and the structure depends on snow depth. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled and right side up with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50 to 100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted. If a persistent slab is triggered from thinner snowpack areas it may release on basal facets resulting in a full depth avalanche.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Rapid snow and wind loading continues with fluctuating freezing levels creating storm snow weaknesses. By Thursday morning another 25 cm of new snow brought storm snow totals to 50-100cm, which has been redistributed by southerly winds. On Monday into Tuesday we had rain up to 2200m near Whistler, while in other zones like the upper Callaghan it was 35 cm or more of fresh snow. The rain (or snow high in the alpine) started to saturate and load a wide variety of previous surface conditions. Simply put, the upper snowpack is extremely variable with weaknesses within and under the recent storm snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): 10-20cm of fresh snow is likely bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface up to treeline elevations. At alpine elevations, touchy fresh wind slabs are likely forming. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): Another 35 cm of fresh snow by Thursday morning brings the storm snow totals to over a metre, which was all redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds. This has resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. Weaknesses within the recent storm snow are likely also highly sensitive to triggering.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">40-60 cm of storm snow in the south of the region has been transported by strong southwest winds in the alpine and at treeline over the past few days. The freezing level has been around 1200 m, and below this level the snowpack is moist or wet. As the storm snow settles into a slab, we are concerned that several of the weak surface hoar or facet interfaces that developed during cold and clear weather may become reactive. The January 5th layer is down 50-80 cm, and the December 25th layer is now down close to 100 cm in deeper snowpack areas. These are not typical conditions for this coastal region, and it may take some time to gain confidence about the distribution and likelihood of triggering these deeply buried weak layers. Areas exposed to cornice fall should be avoided due to the possibility of a cornice triggering a deep weak layer. I suggest a conservative approach to terrain while gathering info after the storm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">20-25 cm of new storm snow has been transported by southwest winds and now sits on a mix of old surfaces left behind after the recent cold and windy weather. Expect the new storm snow to bond poorly where it is sitting on a weak layer of buried surface hoar and/or a hard old wind polished surface. The freezing level recently reached 1000 m, and below this level the snowpack is likely moist and will eventually form a hard crust. Most areas continue to have a shallow and weak snowpack that is about 120-150 cm at treeline. In general, the snowpack above treeline has been heavily wind effected; this has resulted in hard wind slabs above weak faceted snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most recent new snow and southwest wind have formed storm and wind slabs that are sitting on a variety old surfaces that include facets, surface hoar and hard wind slabs. The newly buried surface hoar was reported to be up to 10mm in size in protected areas. A layer of sugary faceted snow and spotty surface hoar which formed during mid December's cold snap now lies 100-120cm below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region, particularly around Clemina Creek. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most recent storm brought variable snow fall amounts to this region ranging from 40-60cm. The storm slab has been sensitive to additional loads. Previous to the new storm, recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that had been reported to be up to 7mm in size in sheltered areas below tree line. In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer lies up to 120 cm below the surface. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugarbowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with a thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Thursday morning another 15-25 cm added the previous 15-25 cm of fresh snow accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds. This has resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> The mid-December surface hoar/ facet layer is now likely down 50-90 cm and may become reactive again with continued loading and warming</span><span class="s_3FE45715">. In thin rocky areas, particularly in the Rossland range, recent reports include easy sudden collapse snowpack test results on facets down 120-150 cm near the ground. This deep persistent weakness may also become reactive with continued loading and warming.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snow from the last storm cycle has been re-distributed by the strong to extreme westerly winds. This transport is more evident at the alpine elevations where crossloading and lee loading have occurred. These new wind slabs will are easily seen and/or predicted on N to SE aspects. Treeline suffers from the same problem, however the loading pattern is a bit trickier to predict. The slabs are 10-20cm thick and reactive to skier terrain in steep, unsupported terrain. The treeline midpack, is still considered weak and un supportive. Below treeline, the coverage is still shallow with very poor travel conditions when off an existing trail. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">As of Thursday afternoon around 15cm of fresh snow above 1000 m was likely bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface. At alpine elevations fresh wind slabs could be touchy. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent new snow and moderate to strong southwest winds have developed storm and wind slabs. These have buried a variety of old surfaces including surface hoar, facets, sun crust on steep solar aspects and wind slabs. Below, the mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weakness can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered. Particularly in shallow spots where this layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-30 cm of recent new snow accumulation, wind and warming have built wind slabs on wind-loaded features. In sheltered areas, the new snow has possibly buried a layer of feathery surface hoar. The main concern deeper in the snowpack is a layer of sugary facets from mid-December that can be found between 50 and 100 cm deep. This layer was considered dormant during the the previous cold weather, but may still become reactive with the recent warm temperatures.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A warm wet storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m on Thursday. Expect to find storm slabs at higher elevations, particularly on wind-loaded northeast slopes. At lower elevations moist snow will gradually freeze into a hard crust. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas. A widespread weak layer of facets from mid-December can be found buried about a metre deep, but is generally considered dormant.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent flurries and winds have formed hard wind slabs on lee features in exposed terrain, while warm temperatures have moistened the upper snowpack below treeline. The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50 to 100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted. Triggering a persistent slab in thinner snowpack area may result in a full depth avalanche.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Rapid snow and wind loading occurred during the week. The storm snow fell in fluctuating freezing levels, creating storm snow weaknesses. By Friday morning another 15 cm of new snow brought storm snow totals to 70-140cm, which has been redistributed by southerly winds. On Monday into Tuesday we had rain up to 2200m near Whistler, while in other zones like the upper Callaghan it was 35 cm or more of fresh snow. The rain (or snow high in the alpine) started to saturate and load a wide variety of previous surface conditions. Simply put, the upper snowpack is extremely variable with weaknesses within and under the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): 10-20cm of fresh snow is likely bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface up to treeline elevations. At alpine elevations, touchy fresh wind slabs are likely forming.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): Up to 45 cm of fresh snow by Friday morning brings the storm snow totals to over a metre, which was all redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds. This has resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. Weaknesses within the recent storm snow are likely also highly sensitive to triggering.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A warm wet storm delivered 40-60 cm of heavy snow in the south of the region, with freezing levels reaching 1200 m. Expect to find storm slabs at higher elevations, particularly on wind-loaded northeast slopes. At lower elevations moist snow is gradually freezing into a crust. At this point there is some uncertainty as to how the deeper persistent weak layers will respond to the recent loading and warming. Several weak surface hoar and facet interfaces were reactive during the storm. This includes the January 5th layer is down 50-80 cm and the December 25th layer down close to 100 cm. These are not typical conditions for this coastal region, and it may take some time to gain confidence about the distribution and likelihood of triggering these deeply buried weak layers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last week's storm delivered 20-30 cm in the Smithers area and 40 cm or more in deeper areas to the north and west. Freezing levels reached up to 1600 m, leaving moist surface snow which is now freezing into a crust. Storm slabs may be lingering at higher elevations and may sit on a weak layer of surface hoar and/or old hard wind slabs. Most areas continue to have a shallow and weak snowpack that is about 120-150 cm at treeline. In general, the lower snowpack consists of old hard wind slabs above weak faceted snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most recent new snow and southwest wind have formed storm and wind slabs that are sitting on a variety old surfaces that include facets, surface hoar and hard wind slabs. The newly buried surface hoar was reported to be up to 10mm in size in protected areas. A layer of sugary faceted snow and spotty surface hoar which formed during mid December's cold snap now lies 100-120cm below the surface. This layer is now dormant in many areas, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region, particularly around Clemina Creek. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most recent storm brought variable snow fall amounts to this region ranging from 40-60cm. The storm slab has been sensitive to additional loads. Previous to the new storm, recent cold and clear weather has promoted both faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar that had been reported to be up to 7mm in size in sheltered areas below tree line. In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer lies up to 120 cm below the surface. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugarbowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with a thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">By Friday morning another 2-10 cm added to the previous 25-45 cm of fresh snow this week, accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds. This has resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. In some areas of the Rossland range, the mid-November rain crust / facet layer is now likely down 50-90 cm and has become reactive with continued loading and warming. In thin rocky areas, particularly in the Rossland range, recent reports include easy sudden collapse snowpack test results on facets down 120-150 cm near the ground. This deep persistent weakness may also become reactive with continued loading and warming.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">5-10cm of low density snow has fallen over the past 24hrs.  This snow has had very little wind affect and was a nice freshen up for the day.  At treeline and above there is 50-80cm of snow overlying the basal 30-50cm of facets.  Expect to encounter windslabs in crossloaded gullied features as well as along the lee sides of ridges.  Deeper in the snowpack are the basal facets.  Snowpack tests on friday are showing that these facets are failing with a sudden collapse in the moderate range.  These tests were done in a deeper snowpack area.  In thinner areas, we can expect these weak basal layers to fail easier.  The big take home message is the current snowpack is weak and well within the range of human triggerring.  Choose supportive slopes and avoid thin snowpack areas.  Below treeline, if you are not on an old trail, expect to be working as ski pen can be to ground. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> By Friday afternoon around 15-25cm of new snow above 1000 m was likely bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface. At alpine elevations fresh wind slabs could be touchy. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface which consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered areas, widespread faceted old snow, and/or a sun crust on steep solar aspects. Strong southwest winds during the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered. This layer remains a concern for shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25-60 cm of recent new snow accumulation, wind, and warming have built storm slabs and wind slabs. In sheltered areas, the new snow has possibly buried a layer of feathery surface hoar. The main concern deeper in the snowpack is a layer of sugary facets from mid-December that can be found between 50 and 100 cm deep. This layer was a concern during the recent storm and warm weather but is now considered dormant again with colder temperatures and dry conditions. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A warm wet storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow on Thursday with freezing levels up to 1600 m. Storm slabs exist at higher elevations, particularly on wind-loaded northeast slopes. Crusts near the surface can be found on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600 m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent flurries and winds have formed hard wind slabs on lee features in exposed terrain, while a melt-freeze cycle has left a crust at lower elevations (up to 1400 m in the west and 1900 m in the east). The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. In these areas, variable winds have formed isolated hard slabs above the weak facets with the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Rapid snow and wind loading occurred during the week. The storm snow fell in fluctuating freezing levels, creating storm snow weaknesses. By Friday morning another 15 cm of new snow brought storm snow totals to 70-140cm, which has been redistributed by southerly winds. Early last week we had rain up to 2200m near Whistler, while in other zones like the upper Callaghan it was 35 cm or more of fresh snow. The rain (or snow high in the alpine) started to saturate and load a wide variety of previous surface conditions. Simply put, the upper snowpack is extremely variable with weaknesses within and under the recent storm snow. Of most recent concern is touchy pockets of wind slab that developed Friday on northwesterly features above 2000m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): 10-20cm of fresh snow is likely bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface up to treeline elevations. At alpine elevations, up to 40cm of storm snow fell and touchy wind slabs are likely forming on northerly aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): Up to 45 cm of fresh snow by Friday morning brings the storm snow totals to over a metre, which was all redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds. This has resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. Weaknesses within the recent storm snow have also been highly sensitive to triggering.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A warm wet storm delivered 40-60 cm of heavy snow in the south of the region, with freezing levels reaching 1200 m. Expect to find storm slabs at higher elevations, particularly on wind-loaded northeast slopes. At lower elevations, moist snow is freezing into a hard crust. At this point there is some uncertainty as to how deeper persistent weak layers are responding to the recent loading and warming. Several weak surface hoar and facet interfaces were reactive during the storm, but have shown signs gaining strength since. This includes the January 5th layer about 50 cm deep and the December 25th layer up to a metre deep. These are not typical conditions for this coastal region, and it will take more time to gain confidence about the distribution and likelihood of triggering these deeply buried weak layers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last week's storm delivered 20-30 cm in the Smithers area and up to 40 cm or more in deeper areas to the north and west. Freezing levels reached up to around 1600 m, which has left a hard rain crust at lower elevations. Storm slabs may linger at higher elevations, particularly in wind loaded areas or where buried surface hoar from earlier this month is preserved. Most areas continue to have a shallow and weak snowpack, with treeline depths around 120-150 cm. The lower snowpack generally consists of old hard wind slabs above weak faceted snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface with the largest snowfall amounts in the north of the region. The buried interface consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 10 mm in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. Strong southwest winds during the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 100-120 cm deep. This layer is now dormant in many areas in the south of the region, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region, especially the far north of the region in places like Clemina Creek. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface which consists wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 7 mm in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. Strong southwest winds during the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer typically lies around 1.5 m below the surface. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugar Bowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with a thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">By Friday morning another 2-10 cm added to the previous 25-45 cm of fresh snow this week, accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds. This has resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. In some areas of the Rossland range, the mid-November rain crust / facet layer is now likely down 50-90 cm and has become reactive with continued loading and warming. In thin rocky areas, particularly in the Rossland range, recent reports include easy sudden collapse snowpack test results on facets down 120-150 cm near the ground. This deep persistent weakness may also become reactive with continued loading and warming.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The below tree line snow pack is still terrible. 50-60cm of facets makes trail breaking frustratingly difficult and tediously slow. Ground hazards are barely buried.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Moving up to treeline, there are three distinct layers/interfaces to watch for. The top 40-60cm is a series of laminated windslabs of varying densities. In some windloaded areas, there may be failures within these slabs. This layer will likely react as one solid layer if initiated. Below that lies the Dec 18th facet layer. In today's trip to Tent Ridge, this interface/layer was very prominent. Tests had a consistent failure down 60cm within this facet layer. Below this lies the third main layer which is made up of the various crusts from earlier this winter. In general it seems to be relatively solid. In the alpine it is similar, except for the additional windslabs on the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">At treeline elevations (1200m) and above, 20-35cm of heavy snow from Thursday-Friday sits on the rain-soaked snow from last week's warmup. This new snow is bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface. At alpine elevations fresh wind slabs could be touchy, especially if we do get as much snow as some forecasts suggest (up to 25cm by Sunday afternoon). The cooling trend early next week is expected to stabilize the snowpack - locking up the moist snow at treeline and below. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface with the largest snowfall amounts in the north of the region. The buried interface consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered areas, widespread faceted old snow, and/or a sun crust on steep solar aspects. The bond between the new snow and the old surface is generally gaining strength with the colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses are lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm and moderate southwest winds following the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered. This layer remains a concern for shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. The lower snowpack is well bonded and features a thick rain crust near the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface which consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The bond between the new snow and the old surface is generally gaining strength with colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses are lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm and moderate southwest winds following the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 50-100 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A dusting of light snow covers settled storm snow from last week. Last week's storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600 m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A dusting of new snow sits above hard wind-affected surfaces, while a recent melt-freeze cycle has left a hard crust at lower elevations (up to 1400 m in the west and 1900 m in the east). The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. In these areas, winds have formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets with the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Rapid snow and wind loading occurred last week. The storm snow (70-140cm) fell in fluctuating freezing levels, creating storm snow weaknesses which have mostly settled out by now. The rain (or snow high in the alpine) started to saturate and load a wide variety of previous surface conditions. Simply put, the upper snowpack is extremely variable and given the amount of recent snow, it remains a question as to how well it has bonded to the old, cold surface in the alpine. Of most recent concern is touchy pockets of wind slab that developed Friday on northwesterly features above 2000m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): 10-20cm of snow from last week appears to be bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface up to treeline elevations. At alpine elevations, up to 40cm of storm snow fell with some wind slabs forming on northerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): Up to 45 cm of fresh snow by Friday morning brought the storm snow totals to over a metre, which was all redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds. This resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. Weaknesses within the recent storm snow have been settling - I'd remain suspicious of the bond of the storm snow in the alpine to the previous cold snow surface from over a week ago. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last week's storm delivered 40-60 cm of heavy snow to the south of the region. Since then light flurries and moderate winds have formed fresh wind slabs at higher elevations. Freezing levels reached 1200 m during the storm, which has resulted in a hard supportive crust at lower elevations. At this point there is some uncertainty as to how deeper persistent weak layers are responding to the recent loading and warming. Several weak surface hoar and facet interfaces were reactive during the storm, but have shown signs gaining strength since. This includes the January 5th layer about 50 cm deep and the December 25th layer up to a metre deep. These are not typical conditions for this coastal region, and it will take more time to gain confidence about the distribution and likelihood of triggering these deeply buried weak layers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last week's storm delivered 20-30 cm in the Smithers area and up to 40 cm or more in deeper areas to the north and west. Freezing levels reached up to around 1600 m, which has left a hard rain crust at lower elevations. Wind slabs may linger at higher elevations, and have potential for wide propagations where they sit above preserved surface hoar from earlier this month. Most areas continue to have a shallow and weak snowpack. Snowpack depths are around 120-150 cm at treeline, with hard slabs in the upper snowpack above weak sugary snow near the ground. Triggering a deep persistent slab will remain a low probability high consequence scenario.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface with the largest snowfall amounts in the north of the region. The buried interface consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 10 mm in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The bond between the new snow and the old surface is generally gaining strength with colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses are lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm and moderate southwest winds following the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 100-120 cm deep. This layer is now dormant in many areas in the south of the region, but may still be a concern in shallow snowpack parts of the region and in the far north of the region in places like Clemina Creek. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. The lower snowpack seems to be generally strong and well settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface which consists wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 7 mm in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. Strong southwest winds during the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In deeper snowpack parts of the region, the mid-December facet layer typically lies around 1.5 m below the surface. In shallower areas, particularly those in the southeast (Allen Creek), North (Sugar Bowl) and likely some western areas around Quesnel and Barkerville, the snowpack is likely a lot more suspect, with a thicker, more pronounced facet layer buried only 50-60 cm below the surface.  This layer woke up during the recent storm and has remained reactive to human triggers several days after the storm ended.  Several large human triggered avalanches including events with multiple burials have occurred on this layer over the weekend.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A complex and tricky snowpack exists in the Kootenay Boundary region. By Sunday morning another 3-12 cm added to the previous 35-55 cm of fresh snow from last week (which was accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds). This resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects. The Jan 17th surface hoar layer continues to give easy sudden results in snowpack tests (down anywhere from 30 to 60cms depending on location). In some areas of the Rossland range, the mid-November rain crust / facet layer is now likely down 60-100 cm and has become reactive with continued loading and warming. In thin rocky areas, particularly in the Rossland range, recent reports include easy sudden collapse snowpack test results on facets down 120-150 cm near the ground. This deep persistent weakness may also become reactive with continued loading and warming.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Mostly a weak snowpack.  The upper third of the snowpack is comprised of laminated windslabs overlying a weak midpack and basal facets..  BTL, the facets are even more prominent through most of the snowpack making travel even more challenging.&nbsp; </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">At treeline elevations (1200m) and above, 20-35cm of heavy snow from Thursday-Friday sits on the rain-soaked snow from last week's warmup. This latest snow is settling and bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface. At alpine elevations fresh wind slabs could be touchy, especially if we do get as much snow as some forecasts suggest (up to 25cm by Sunday afternoon). The cooling trend early next week is expected to stabilize the snowpack - locking up the moist snow at treeline and below. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of recent snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface with the largest amounts in the north of the region. The buried interface consists of old wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered areas, widespread faceted old snow, and/or a sun crust on steep solar aspects. The bond between the new snow and the old surface has generally gained a lot of strength with the colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses may still be lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm had redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features.&nbsp; Isolated moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered. This layer remains a concern for shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25-50 cm of recent snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface which consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The bond between the new snow and the old surface is generally gaining strength with colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses are lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm and moderate southwest winds following the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 50-100 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, a few storm slab and wind slab avalanches have recently stepped down to this layer in isolated areas. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. With the next storm or period of warming, this layer could wake up and create a more widespread problem.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A dusting of light snow covers settled storm snow from last week. Last week's storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600 m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of low density snow sits above hard wind-affected surfaces, while a recent melt-freeze cycle has left a hard crust at lower elevations (up to 1400 m in the west and 1900 m in the east). The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. In these areas, winds have formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A highly variable 70-140 cm of storm snow now forms our upper snowpack, the product of a storm that rapidly blanketed the region late last week. Wind slabs developed on a range of aspects at exposed higher elevations in the days since the storm. These wind slabs currently form our primary avalanche hazard. Aside from wind slabs, the storm snow has been described as 'right side up' (lower density at the top) and is settling quickly with the aid of continued mild temperatures. Its bond to the varied surfaces below it has been improving, with this interface producing moderate to hard and generally resistant snowpack test results. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that warrant long term monitoring.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): 10-20cm of snow from last week appears to be bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface up to treeline elevations. At alpine elevations, up to 40cm of storm snow fell with some wind slabs forming on northerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): Up to 45 cm of fresh snow by Friday morning brought the storm snow totals to over a metre, which was all redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds. This resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. Weaknesses within the recent storm snow have been settling - I'd remain suspicious of the bond of the storm snow in the alpine to the previous cold snow surface from over a week ago. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Light flurries and moderate winds have formed fresh wind slabs above 40-60 cm of settled storm snow from last week. Freezing levels reached 1200 m during the storm, which has left a hard supportive crust at lower elevations. At this point there is some uncertainty as to how deeper persistent weak layers are responding to the recent loading and warming. Several weak surface hoar and facet interfaces were reactive during the storm, but have shown signs gaining strength since. This includes the January 5th layer about 50 cm deep and the December 25th layer up to a metre deep. These are not typical conditions for this coastal region, and it will take more time to gain confidence about the distribution and likelihood of triggering these deeply buried weak layers. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">5-20 cm of settled storm snow sits above a widespread rain crust up to about 1300 m. Recent winds have likely formed wind slabs on lee and cross loaded features. Several buried surface hoar layers have been reported 40-80 cm deep and have given variable results in snowpack tests. Many areas have hard slabs in the upper snowpack above weak sugary snow near the ground. Triggering a deep persistent slab above this sugary snow will remain a low probability high consequence scenario for some time.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface with the largest snowfall amounts in the north of the region. The buried interface consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 10 mm in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The bond between the new snow and the old surface has generally gained a lot of strength with the colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses may still be lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm had redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 100-120 cm deep. This layer is now dormant in the south of the region but is still a real concern in the far north of the region in the mountains around Blue River and Valemount.&nbsp; It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface which consists wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 7 mm in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The bond between the new snow and the old surface is generally gaining strength with colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses are lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar/facet layer lies anywhere from 50 cm down in shallow snowpack areas to 1.5 m down in deeper snowpack areas. This layer woke up during the recent storm and has remained reactive to human triggers several days after the storm ended. Several large human triggered avalanches including events with multiple burials have occurred on this layer over the weekend. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A complex and tricky snowpack exists in the Kootenay Boundary region. By Sunday morning another 3-12 cm added to the previous 35-55 cm of fresh snow from last week (which was accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds). This resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects. The Jan 17th surface hoar layer continues to give easy sudden results in snowpack tests (down anywhere from 30 to 60cms depending on location). In some areas of the Rossland range, the mid-November rain crust / facet layer is now likely down 60-100 cm and has become reactive with continued loading and warming. In thin rocky areas, particularly in the Rossland range, recent reports include easy sudden collapse snowpack test results on facets down 120-150 cm near the ground. This deep persistent weakness may also become reactive with continued loading and warming.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Mostly a weak snowpack. The upper third of the snowpack is comprised of laminated windslabs overlying a weak midpack and basal facets.. BTL, the facets are even more prominent through most of the snowpack making travel even more challenging. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-15 cm of new snow fell over Sunday night. A density change interface down about 7cm within the new snow has proven touchy, producing Size 1 ski cut results on Monday morning. Including our new snow, storm snow since Thursday now amounts to 30-40 cm at treeline elevations and above. This storm snow sits above the rain-soaked snow from last week's warmup. It is settling and bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface. At alpine elevations fresh wind slabs could be touchy, especially if we do get as much snow as some forecasts suggest (up to 25cm by Sunday afternoon). The cooling trend early next week is expected to stabilize the snowpack - locking up the moist snow at treeline and below. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of recent snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface with the largest amounts in the north of the region. The buried interface consists of old wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered areas, widespread faceted old snow, and/or a sun crust on steep solar aspects. The bond between the new snow and the old surface has generally gained a lot of strength with the colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses may still be lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm had redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered. This layer remains a concern for shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25-50 cm of recent snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface which consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The bond between the new snow and the old surface is generally gaining strength with colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses are lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm and moderate southwest winds following the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 50-100 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, a few storm slab and wind slab avalanches have recently stepped down to this layer in isolated areas. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. With the next storm or period of warming, this layer could wake up and create a more widespread problem.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A dusting of light snow covers settled storm snow from last week. Last week's storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600 m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of low density snow sits above hard wind-affected surfaces, while a recent melt-freeze cycle has left a hard crust at lower elevations (up to 1400 m in the west and 1900 m in the east). The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. In these areas, winds have formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A highly variable 70-140 cm of storm snow now forms our upper snowpack, the product of a storm that rapidly blanketed the region late last week. Wind slabs developed on a range of aspects at exposed higher elevations in the days after the storm and these wind slabs currently form our primary avalanche hazard. Aside from wind slabs, the storm snow has been described as 'right side up' (lower density at the top) and is settling quickly with the aid of continued mild temperatures. While this inspires some confidence, a number of easy sudden planar results on density changes in the storm snow were observed on a northwest aspect in the Spearhead range on Monday, suggesting that investigation of the storm snow is still called for in bigger terrain. The bond of our storm snow to the varied surfaces below it has been improving, with this interface producing moderate to hard and generally resistant snowpack test results. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that warrant long term monitoring.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): 10-20cm of snow from last week appears to be bonding well to the previous rain-soaked snow surface up to treeline elevations. At alpine elevations, up to 40cm of storm snow fell with some wind slabs forming on northerly aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): Up to 45 cm of fresh snow by Friday morning brought the storm snow totals to over a metre, which was all redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds. This resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. Weaknesses within the recent storm snow have been settling, but the bond of the storm snow to the previous cold snow surface from over a week ago is less reliable. Thin snowpack areas such as the South Chilcotin mountains remain the most likely to harbour this and other persistent weaknesses.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Light flurries and moderate winds have formed fresh wind slabs above 40-60 cm of settled storm snow from last week. Freezing levels reached 1200 m during the storm, which has left a hard supportive crust at lower elevations. At this point there is some uncertainty as to how deeper persistent weak layers are responding to the recent loading and warming. Several weak surface hoar and facet interfaces were reactive during the storm, but have shown signs gaining strength since. This includes the January 5th layer about 50 cm deep and the December 25th layer up to a metre deep. These are not typical conditions for this coastal region, and it will take more time to gain confidence about the distribution and likelihood of triggering these deeply buried weak layers. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">5-20 cm of settled storm snow sits above a widespread rain crust up to about 1300 m. Recent winds have likely formed wind slabs on lee and cross loaded features. Several buried surface hoar layers have been reported 40-80 cm deep and have given variable results in snowpack tests. Many areas have hard slabs in the upper snowpack above weak sugary snow near the ground. Triggering a deep persistent slab above this sugary snow will remain a low probability high consequence scenario for some time.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface with the largest snowfall amounts in the north of the region. The buried interface consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 10 mm in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The bond between the new snow and the old surface has generally gained a lot of strength with the colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses may still be lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm had redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 100-120 cm deep. This layer is now dormant in the south of the region but is still a real concern in the far north of the region in the mountains around Blue River and Valemount. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface which consists wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 7 mm in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The bond between the new snow and the old surface is generally gaining strength with colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses are lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar/facet layer lies anywhere from 50 cm down in shallow snowpack areas to 1.5 m down in deeper snowpack areas. This layer woke up during the recent storm and has remained reactive to human triggers. Several large human-triggered avalanches including events with multiple burials have occurred on this layer. I would expect continued reactivity at this interface for the foreseeable future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A complex and tricky snowpack exists in the Kootenay Boundary region. By Sunday morning another 3-12 cm added to the previous 35-55 cm of fresh snow from last week (which was accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds). This resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects. The Jan 17th surface hoar layer continues to give easy sudden results in snowpack tests (down anywhere from 30 to 60cms depending on location). In some areas of the Rossland range, the mid-November rain crust / facet layer is now likely down 60-100 cm and has become reactive with continued loading and warming. In thin rocky areas, particularly in the Rossland range, recent reports include easy sudden collapse snowpack test results on facets down 120-150 cm near the ground. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-15 cm of new snow fell over the region over Sunday evening. Density change interfaces within and beneath this new snow proved touchy over Monday, producing Size 1 avalanches with ski cuts and skier traffic. While these new snow instabilities are likely to heal quickly, they will remain our primary avalanche hazard over the short term. The problem will be less pronounced on solar aspects and lower elevations where warm temperatures created moist surface snow which has since refrozen. Including our new snow, storm snow since Thursday now amounts to 30-40 cm at treeline elevations and above. This storm snow sits above the rain-soaked snow from last week's warmup and it is settling and bonding well to this surface. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of recent snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface with the largest amounts in the north of the region. The buried interface consists of old wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered areas, widespread faceted old snow, and/or a sun crust on steep solar aspects. The bond between the new snow and the old surface has generally gained a lot of strength with the colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses may still be lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm had redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 70-120 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered. This layer remains a concern for shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25-50 cm of recent snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface which consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The bond between the new snow and the old surface is generally gaining strength with colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses are lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm and moderate southwest winds following the storm have redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 50-100 cm deep and is generally considered dormant. However, a few storm slab and wind slab avalanches have recently stepped down to this layer in isolated areas. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. With the next storm or period of warming, this layer could wake up and create a more widespread problem.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A dusting of light snow covers settled storm snow from last week. Last week's storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600 m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of low density snow sits above hard wind-affected surfaces. Below 1500 metres there may be an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. In the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. Some solar exposed terrain in the alpine may have a thin sun-crust about 3 cm thick, and this may have a few cm of light dry snow above . The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. In these areas, winds have formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A highly variable 70-140 cm of storm snow now forms our upper snowpack, the product of a storm that rapidly blanketed the region late last week. Wind slabs developed on a range of aspects at exposed higher elevations in the days after the storm and these wind slabs remain our primary avalanche hazard. Aside from wind slabs, the storm snow has been described as 'right side up' (lower density at the top) and is settling quickly with the aid of continued mild temperatures. While this inspires some confidence, a number of easy sudden planar results on density changes in the storm snow were observed in the Spearhead range as recently as Monday, suggesting that investigation of the storm snow is still called for in bigger terrain. The bond of our storm snow to the varied surfaces below it has been improving, with this interface producing moderate to hard and generally resistant snowpack test results. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that warrant long term monitoring.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): 10-20cm of snow from last week appears to be bonding well to an underlying thick, supportive crust up to treeline elevations. At alpine elevations, up to 40cm of storm snow fell with some wind slabs forming on northerly aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): Up to and in some areas over metre of storm snow lies on the surface, the product of a series of storms late last week. In the days during and after the storms, this snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds from a wide range of directions. This resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs forming and bonding poorly to the previous snow surface. This surface includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. Weaknesses within the recent storm snow have been settling, but the bond of the storm snow to the previous cold snow surface from over a week ago is less reliable. Thin snowpack areas such as the South Chilcotin mountains remain the most likely to harbour this and other persistent weaknesses.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">There is 5-10 cm of new snow above the latest buried surface hoar layer from January 23rd that has been found up to size 10 mm at treeline and below. This surface hoar layer may be associated with a crust below 1100 metres. There continues to be several other surface hoar layers of concern from early January and Christmas. Some reports show these persistent weak layers to be rounding and bonding, however we are still getting some reports of sudden planar releases in snowpack tests with hard forces applied. I suspect the forecast heavy precipitation over the next few days will be a good test for these older buried weak layers. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">5-20 cm of settled storm snow sits above a widespread rain crust up to about 1300 m. Recent winds have likely formed wind slabs on lee and cross loaded features. Several buried surface hoar layers have been reported 25-50 cm deep and have given moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. Many areas have hard slabs in the upper snowpack above weak sugary snow near the ground. Triggering a deep persistent slab above this sugary snow will remain a low probability high consequence scenario for some time. Snow profile information from Tuesday at Hankin reports 110cm at treeline with a buried surface hoar layer down 25cm and weak facetted snow down 75 cm as well as depth hoar above the ground. You can see the full report on the MIN.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface with the largest snowfall amounts in the north of the region. The buried interface consists of wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 10 mm in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The bond between the new snow and the old surface has generally gained a lot of strength with the colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses may still be lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm had redistributed the new snow and developed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December facet/surface hoar persistent weak layer can be found buried 100-120 cm deep. This layer is now dormant in the south of the region but is still a real concern in the far north of the region in the mountains around Blue River and Valemount. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow typically overlies the variable mid-January interface which consists wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain, surface hoar up to 7 mm in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The bond between the new snow and the old surface is generally gaining strength with colder temperatures that followed the storm but weaknesses are lingering, especially where surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar/facet layer lies anywhere from 50 cm down in shallow snowpack areas to 1.5 m down in deeper snowpack areas. This layer woke up during the recent storm and has remained reactive to human triggers. Several large human-triggered avalanches including events with multiple burials have occurred on this layer. I would expect continued reactivity at this interface for the foreseeable future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A complex and tricky snowpack exists in the Kootenay Boundary region. At the surface, a trace to 5 cm of new snow fell over the region on Tuesday night, giving a thin cover to surface hoar that has been observed growing up to 6 mm. Combined with Sunday's 3-12 cm and 35-55 cm from last week's storms, the storm snow forming our upper snowpack now totals a rather variable 40-70 cm. The initial snowfall last week was accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds, resulting in touchy storm and wind slabs forming and bonding poorly to the previous (January 17) snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects. This varied layer continues to give easy to moderate and occasionally sudden results in snowpack tests (down anywhere from 30 to 60cms depending on location). In some areas of the Rossland range, the mid-November rain crust / facet layer is now found down 60-100 cm and has proven reactive with recent loading and warming. In thin rocky areas, particularly in the Rossland range, recent reports include easy sudden collapse snowpack test results on facets down 120-150 cm near the ground. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below treeline travel is fairly grim.  Expect ski penetrations to ground in many areas and the best solution to getting up to the skiing is via an old established up-track.  At treeline and above the upper snowpack has 30-40cm of settled snow that is overlying the weak basal facets.  Moderate compression tests that are sudden collapse in nature are being observed at this interface.  Thin weak spots are the most likely areas where a skier could cause a failure.  As a result choose supported terrain, and avoid thin areas.  The only skiing to be found is at treeline and above.  If you are looking for turns below treeline, look elsewhere!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">At lower elevations and on solar aspects, recent warm temperatures and solar radiation have created temperature and sun crusts on the snow surface. Including 10-15 cm of new snow received over Sunday evening, the storm snow that now forms our upper snowpack totals approximately 30-40 cm at treeline elevations and above. Aside from thin pockets of wind slab lingering in lee terrain at our highest elevations, instabilities within the storm snow have largely settled out and this snows bond to the underlying surface is strong. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of recent snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated subsequent moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading. Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December, can now be found down 70-120 cm and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, which is most likely in shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of recent snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Southwest winds have deposited wind slabs on the downwind side of ridge crests and similar terrain features. Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December, can now be found down 50-100 cm and is generally considered dormant. However, a few storm slab and wind slab avalanches have recently stepped down to this layer in isolated areas. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. With the next storm or period of warming, this layer could wake up and create a more widespread problem.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A dusting of light snow covers settled storm snow from last week. Last week's storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600 m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas. In the First Peak area on Wednesday, the height of snow was 140 cm at an elevation of 1950 metres. The top 50 cm of the snowpack was pencil resistance hard above a softer layer of December facets, and the November crust in this location was 15 cm thick and breaking down into weak facetted crystals.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of low density snow sits above hard wind-affected surfaces. Below 1500 metres there may be an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. In the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain on Tuesday the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. Some solar exposed terrain in the alpine may have a thin sun-crust about 3 cm thick, and this may have a few cm of light dry snow above . The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. In these areas, winds have formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">At the snow surface, surface hoar has been observed growing up to 10 mm in the Whistler area. Below this, a highly variable 70-140 cm of storm snow now forms our upper snowpack, the product of a storm that rapidly blanketed the region late last week. Wind slabs developed on a range of aspects at exposed higher elevations in the days after the storm and although they have gained strength, they remain our primary avalanche hazard. Aside from wind slabs, the storm snow has been described as 'right side up' (lower density at the top) and is settling quickly with the aid of continued mild temperatures. While this inspires some confidence, occasional sudden planar results within this layer continue to suggest that investigation of the storm snow is still called for in bigger terrain. The bond of our storm snow to the varied surfaces below it has been improving, with this interface producing moderate to hard and generally resistant snowpack test results. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that warrant long term monitoring.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): 10-20cm of snow from last week appears to be bonding well to an underlying thick, supportive crust up to treeline elevations. At alpine elevations, up to 40cm of storm snow fell with some wind slabs forming on northerly aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): Up to and in some areas over metre of storm snow lies on the surface, the product of a series of storms late last week. In the days during and after the storms, this snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds from a wide range of directions. This resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs forming and bonding poorly to the previous (January 16) snow surface. This surface includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. Weaknesses within the recent storm snow have been settling, but the bond of the storm snow to the previous cold snow surface from over a week ago is less reliable. Thin snowpack areas such as the South Chilcotin mountains remain the most likely to harbour this and other persistent weaknesses.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">There is 10-20 cm of new snow above the latest buried surface hoar layer from January 23rd that has been found up to size 10 mm at treeline and below. This surface hoar layer may be associated with a crust below 1100 metres. There continues to be several other surface hoar layers of concern from early January and Christmas. Some reports show these persistent weak layers to be rounding and bonding, however we are still getting some reports of sudden planar releases in snowpack tests with hard forces applied. I suspect the forecast heavy precipitation over the next few days will be a good test for these older buried weak layers. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">5-20 cm of settled storm snow sits above a widespread rain crust up to about 1300 m. Recent winds have likely formed wind slabs on lee and cross loaded features. Several buried surface hoar layers have been reported 25-50 cm deep and have given moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. Many areas have hard slabs in the upper snowpack above weak sugary snow near the ground. Triggering a deep persistent slab above this sugary snow will remain a low probability high consequence scenario for some time. Snow profile information from Tuesday at Hankin reports 110cm at treeline with a buried surface hoar layer down 25cm and weak facetted snow down 75 cm as well as depth hoar above the ground. You can see the full report on the MIN.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of recent snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated subsequent moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading. Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December, can now be found down 100-120 cm. This weakness is currently dormant in the south of the region, but sensitive to human-triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-70 cm of recent snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated subsequent moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading. Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December, can now be found down 50 cm in shallow snowpack areas, or as much as 1.5 m in deeper snowpack areas. This layer woke up during the recent storm and has remained reactive to human triggers and smaller avalanches stepping down. This persistent weakness has recently been responsible for several large human-triggered avalanches including some with multiple burials, and this sensitivity is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A complex and tricky snowpack exists in the Kootenay Boundary region. At the surface, a trace to 15 cm of new snow has fallen over the region over Tuesday and Wednesday, covering surface hoar that was previously observed growing up to 6 mm. Combined with Sunday's 3-12 cm and 35-55 cm from last week's storms, the storm snow forming our upper snowpack now totals a rather variable 40-80 cm. The initial snowfall last week was accompanied by moderate to strong southerly winds, resulting in touchy storm and wind slabs forming and bonding poorly to the previous (January 17) snow surface that includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects. This varied layer continues to give easy to moderate and occasionally sudden results in snowpack tests (down anywhere from 30 to 60cms depending on location). In some areas of the Rossland range, the mid-November rain crust / facet layer is now found down 60-100 cm and has proven reactive with recent loading and warming. In thin rocky areas, particularly in the Rossland range, recent reports include easy sudden collapse snowpack test results on facets down 120-150 cm near the ground. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">At lower elevations and on solar aspects, recent warm temperatures and solar radiation have created temperature and sun crusts on the snow surface. Including 10-15 cm of new snow received over Sunday evening, the storm snow that now forms our upper snowpack totals approximately 30-40 cm at treeline elevations and above. Aside from thin pockets of wind slab lingering in lee terrain at our highest elevations, instabilities within the storm snow have largely settled out and this snow's bond to the underlying surface is strong. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of recent snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, crust on south aspects and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated subsequent moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading. Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December, can now be found down 70-120 cm and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered, which is most likely in shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of recent snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Southwest winds have deposited wind slabs on the downwind side of ridge crests and similar terrain features. Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December, can now be found down 50-100 cm and is generally considered dormant. However, a few storm slab and wind slab avalanches have recently stepped down to this layer in isolated areas. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the weakness is closer to the snow surface. With the next storm or period of warming, this weakness could wake up and create a more widespread problem.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Diurnal fuctuation a bit narrower, remaining cool. Trace up to 4cm low density HN at Morrissey</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A dusting of light snow covers settled storm snow from last week. Last week's storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600 m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas. In the First Peak area on Wednesday, the height of snow was 140 cm at an elevation of 1950 metres. The top 50 cm of the snowpack was pencil resistance hard above a softer layer of December facets, and the November crust in this location was 15 cm thick and breaking down into weak facetted crystals.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">No new snow with strong W'ly wind and temps remaining cold.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of low density snow sits above hard wind-affected surfaces. Below 1500 metres there may be an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. In the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain on Tuesday the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. Some solar exposed terrain in the alpine may have a thin sun-crust about 3 cm thick, and this may have a few cm of light dry snow above . The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. In these areas, winds have formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Warm windy weather will settle the snow surface and possibly destroy much of the new surface hoar observed throughout the region. Lingering wind slabs exist on a range of aspects at exposed higher elevations. Although the wind slabs have gained strength, they remain our primary avalanche hazard. A total of 60-120 cm of settled storm snow now forms our upper snowpack and has generally bonded well to crust below. The exception may be thin rocky areas. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that warrant long term monitoring.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): 10-20 cm of snow from last week appears to be bonding well to an underlying thick, supportive crust up to treeline elevations. At alpine elevations, up to 40 cm of storm snow fell with isolated wind slabs forming on northerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): Up to and in some areas over 100 cm of storm snow lies on the surface, the product of a series of storms last week. In the days during and after the storms, this snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds from a wide range of directions. This resulted in touchy storm and wind slabs forming and bonding poorly to the previous (January 16) snow surface. This surface includes facets and large surface hoar on sheltered slopes and/or a sun crust on steep sun-exposed aspects, as well as wind-affected surfaces (e.g. hard wind slab, sastrugi, scoured crust, etc.) in exposed areas. Weaknesses within the recent storm snow have been settling, but the bond of the storm snow to the previous cold snow surface from over a week ago is less reliable. Thin snowpack areas such as the South Chilcotin mountains remain the most likely to harbour this and other persistent weaknesses.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Continuing heavy snowfall on Friday is piling on to the 10-30 cm of new snow we received overnight Thursday. Moderate to strong southwesterly winds have accompanied the storm. The heaviest snowfall has been focused in coastal areas and by Friday afternoon we may expect to find 30-60 cm of snow above the latest buried surface hoar layer from January 23rd. This surface hoar was previously reported growing up to size 10 mm at treeline and below and may be associated with a crust below 1100 metres. There continues to be several other surface hoar layers of concern from early January and Christmas. Some reports show these persistent weak layers to be rounding and bonding, however we are still getting some reports of sudden planar releases in snowpack tests with hard forces applied. Our ongoing heavy precipitation will be a good test for these older buried weak layers. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> After a trace to 10 cm of new snow Thursday night, 5-30 cm of settled storm snow now sits above a widespread rain crust up to about 1300 m. At treeline and above, the new snow will overlie wind slabs recently formed on lee and cross loaded features. Ongoing snowfall and strong winds will continue to shift this wind slab problem into more of a general storm slab over the coming days. Below our new snow, several buried surface hoar layers have been reported 25-50 cm deep and continue to yield moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. Many areas have hard slabs in the upper snowpack above weak sugary snow near the ground. Triggering a deep persistent slab above this sugary snow will remain a low probability high consequence scenario for some time, with probability increasing as our forecast snowfall adds load to the snowpack. Snow profile information from Tuesday at Hankin reports 110cm at treeline with a buried surface hoar layer down 25 cm and weak facetted snow down 75 cm as well as depth hoar above the ground. You can see the full report on the MIN.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of recent snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated subsequent moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading. Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December, can now be found down 100-120 cm. This weakness is currently dormant in the south of the region, but sensitive to human-triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-70 cm of recent snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Isolated subsequent moderate outflow winds may have more recently resulted in reverse wind loading. Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December, can now be found down 50 cm in shallow snowpack areas, or as much as 1.5 m in deeper snowpack areas. This layer woke up during the recent storm and has remained reactive to human triggers and smaller avalanches stepping down. This persistent weakness has recently been responsible for several large human-triggered avalanches including some with multiple burials, and this sensitivity is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For more information, check out this video of our field team testing the snowpack near Barkerville: </span><a href="https://vimeo.com/201318688" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">https://vimeo.com/201318688</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A variety of surface conditions exist including pockets of light snow, sun crusts, shallowly buried surface hoar, and wind affected snow. A total of 30-50 cm of settled storm snow now sits above a weak interface that was buried in mid-January. The interface is composed of weak facets, surface hoar ,and/or sun crusts. The strength of this interface has generally improved, but has still given some easy to moderate sudden results in recent snowpack tests. Areas with thin snowpacks (less than 150 cm) have a weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">Wind affect in alpine areas, most noteable in the southern part of the forecast region. Snowpack is weak and facetted in most areas. Upper snowpack in alpine areas is able to bridge the facets but sticking to mellow terrain and not bigger features as weak areas are widespread. A few cornices have collapsed over the past week with these larger triggers waking up the deep persistent problems on underlying slopes up to sz 2.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Warm temperatures and solar radiation have created temperature and sun crusts on the snow surface at lower elevations and on south-facing slopes. 30-40 cm of recent snow storm has settled, with pockets of wind slabs lingering in lee terrain at our highest elevations. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Twenty to 50 cm of previous snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, crust on south aspects and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during that storm created wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness from mid-December may be found down 70-120 cm and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered; watch shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Fresh new wind slabs are likely to develop below ridge-tops on Sunday when the next front passes through.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Twenty to 50 cm of recent snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Southwest winds have deposited wind slabs on the downwind side of ridge crests and similar terrain features. A deeper surface hoar/facet weakness from mid-December is down 50-100 cm and is generally considered dormant. However, a few storm slab and wind slab avalanches have recently stepped down to this layer in isolated areas. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the weakness is closer to the snow surface. This weakness could potentially wake up again in the future although it doesn't appear Monday's will have enough punch for that to happen.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A dusting of light snow covers settled storm snow from last week. Last week's storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600 m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas. In the First Peak area on Wednesday, the height of snow was 140 cm at an elevation of 1950 metres. The top 50 cm of the snowpack was pencil resistance hard above a softer layer of December facets, and the November crust in this location was 15 cm thick and breaking down into weak faceted crystals.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of low density snow has been undergoing wind redistribution over the past couple of days, joining previous hard, wind-affected surfaces and forming thin layers of wind slab in lee terrain at higher elevations. Below 1500 metres you may find an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. In the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain on Tuesday the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. Some solar exposed terrain in the alpine may have a thin sun-crust about 3 cm thick, and this may have a few cm of light dry snow above . The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. In these areas, winds have formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Expect strong southwest winds and moderate amounts of new snow to form touchy wind slabs on Sunday. The new snow is burying a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of surface hoar, potentially creating a weak interface for wind slabs to propagate along. Old lingering wind slabs may also exist in the immediate lee of ridges. A total of 60-120 cm of settled storm snow now forms our upper snowpack and has generally bonded well to the crust below. The exception may be thin rocky areas. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that warrant long term monitoring.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): Light flurries will bury a variety of crusts and settled storm snow with isolated wind slabs lingering on northerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): Moderate flurries will bury a hard surface composed of settled storm snow, crusts, and surface hoar. Strong southwest winds will form fresh wind slabs. The upper snowpack has 50-80 cm of settled storm snow sitting above the mid-January surface hoar and facet interface. This interface produced large avalanches during the last storm cycle, and may still be poorly bonded in thin snowpack areas such as the South Chilcotins.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> A storm impacting the region over Friday and Saturday has delivered approximately 40-90 cm of new snow to the mountains, with the greatest depths accumulating in coastal areas. Strong to extreme southwesterly winds have accompanied the storm and lower elevations are seeing precipitation fall as rain. Snow will continue to fall over Saturday night and by Sunday morning me might expect anywhere from 70-130 cm to have accumulated above above the latest buried surface hoar layer from January 23rd. This surface hoar was previously reported growing up to size 10 mm at treeline and below and may be associated with a crust below 1100 metres. Although storm slab problems have captured our attention, there continue to be several other surface hoar layers of concern from early January and Christmas. Some reports show these persistent weak layers to be rounding and bonding, however recent reports show sudden planar releases in snowpack tests with hard forces applied. Our ongoing heavy precipitation will be a good test for these older buried weak layers. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Stormy weather over Friday and Saturday has delivered anywhere from 10-25 cm of new snow to the region. Including snow from earlier in the week, 15-50 cm of storm snow now sits above a widespread rain crust up to about 1300 m. At treeline and above, the storm snow overlies wind slabs recently formed on lee and cross loaded features. Ongoing snowfall has effectively shifted this wind slab problem into a more generalized storm slab issue. Below our the storm snow forming the upper snowpack, several buried surface hoar layers can be expected roughly 35-75 cm deep. These layers have recently yielded moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. Many areas have hard slabs in the upper snowpack above weak sugary snow near the ground. Triggering a deep persistent slab above this sugary snow will remain a low probability high consequence scenario for some time, with probability increasing as new snow and strong winds add load to the snowpack. Snow profile information from Tuesday at Hankin reported 110cm at treeline with a buried surface hoar layer down 25 cm and weak facetted snow down 75 cm as well as depth hoar above the ground. You can see the full report on the MIN.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Thirty to 60 cm of recent snow is settling over the previous mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December, can now be found down 100-120 cm. This weakness is currently dormant in the south of the region, but sensitive to human-triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/cariboos" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Read the Cariboo forecast for more information</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B">.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Fifty to 70 cm of recent snow covers the mid-January snow surface which includes buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread facets. This slab is particularly touchy where where the buried surface hoar is preserved. Strong southwest winds during the storm have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain features. A second surface hoar/facet weakness buried mid-December, is now found down 50 cm in shallow snowpack areas, or as much as 1.5 m in deeper snowpack areas. This layer woke up during the last storm and has remained reactive to human triggers. This December weakness is responsible for several large human-triggered avalanches, including some with multiple burials, and this sensitivity is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">For more information, check out this video of our field team testing the snowpack near Barkerville: https://vimeo.com/201318688</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A variety of surface conditions exist including wind affected snow, sun crusts, and shallowly buried surface hoar. A total of 20-40 cm of settled storm snow now sits above a weak interface that was buried in mid-January. The interface is composed of weak facets, surface hoar, and/or sun crusts. The strength of this interface is variable, but has continued to give some concerning sudden results and propagations in snowpack tests. Areas with thin snowpacks (e.g. less than 150 cm) have a weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A midday storm will deliver 20-30 cm of new snow by Sunday afternoon. Expect thicker and touchier storm slabs to develop on north and east facing wind loaded features. The new snow may bond poorly to sun crusts on steep south facing slopes. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">20-50 cm of old snow has settled over the mid-January interface which consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved. Ongoing moderate to strong winds in exposed terrain have been forming new wind slabs over the weekend. The new snow and strong winds on Sunday night are expected to add additional load to these touchy wind slabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-December surface hoar/facet persistent weakness may be found down 70-120 cm and is generally considered dormant. However, we are still receiving occasional reports of sudden results in snowpack tests, suggesting that it has to potential to propagate into a large avalanche if triggered; watch shallow snowpack areas where the layer is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">20-50 cm of old snow is settling over the mid-January interfaces which consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, old wind slabs in exposed terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved. Ongoing moderate to strong winds in exposed terrain have been forming new wind slabs over the weekend. The new snow and strong winds on Sunday night are expected to add additional load to these touchy wind slabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A deeper surface hoar/facet weakness from mid-December is down 50-100 cm and is generally considered dormant. However, a few storm slab and wind slab avalanches stepped down to this layer last week in isolated areas. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the weakness is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Where it hasn't been blown away by recent strong winds, a dusting of light snow covers settled storm snow from two weeks ago. That storm delivered 20-40 cm of heavy snow with freezing levels up to 1600 m. Along with wind affected surfaces in exposed areas, crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600 m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of surface hoar layers that formed in early January that may still exist about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas. In the First Peak area on Wednesday, the height of snow was 140 cm at an elevation of 1950 metres. The top 50 cm of the snowpack was pencil resistance hard above a softer layer of December facets, and the November crust in this location was 15 cm thick and breaking down into weak faceted crystals.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of low density snow has been undergoing heavy wind redistribution over the past few days, joining previous hard, wind-affected surfaces and forming thin layers of wind slab in lee terrain at higher elevations. Below 1500 metres you may find an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. In the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain on Tuesday the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. Some solar exposed terrain in the alpine may have a thin sun-crust about 3 cm thick, and this may have a few cm of light dry snow above . The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. In these areas, winds have formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Light flurries with strong southerly winds have formed fresh wind slabs in the lee of exposed terrain. About 5 cm new snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of surface hoar, potentially creating weak interfaces for wind slabs to propagate along. Old lingering wind slabs may also exist in the immediate lee of ridges. A total of 60-120 cm of settled storm snow now forms our upper snowpack and has generally bonded well to the crust below. The exception may be thin rocky areas. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that warrant long term monitoring.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">SOUTHERN AREAS (e.g. Coquihalla): Light flurries have buried a variety of crusts and settled storm snow. Small fresh wind slabs linger on northerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">NORTHERN AREAS (e.g. Duffey Lake): </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Light flurries with strong southwest winds have formed fresh wind slabs in the lee of exposed terrain. The new snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of surface hoar, potentially creating weak interfaces for wind slabs to propagate along. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">The upper snowpack has 50-80 cm of settled storm snow sitting above the mid-January surface hoar and facet interface. This interface produced large avalanches during the last storm cycle, and may still be poorly bonded in thin snowpack areas such as the South Chilcotins.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A storm that impacted the region over Friday to Sunday morning has delivered approximately 60-110 cm of new snow to the mountains, with the greatest depths accumulating in coastal areas. Strong to extreme southwesterly winds accompanied the storm while lower elevations saw precipitation falling as rain. As of now we can expect anywhere from 70-130 cm to have accumulated above above the latest buried surface hoar layer from January 23rd. This surface hoar was previously reported growing up to size 10 mm at treeline and below and may be associated with a crust below 1100 metres. Although storm slab activity has captured our attention, there continue to be several other surface hoar layers of concern from early January and Christmas. Some reports have shown these persistent weak layers to be rounding and bonding, however recent reports have shown sudden planar releases in snowpack tests with hard forces applied. The heavy precipitation has been a good test for these older buried weak layers and observations over the next couple of days should reveal to what extent they have been involved in avalanche activity.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Stormy weather over Friday to Sunday morning has delivered anywhere from 30-60 cm of new snow to the region. Including snow from earlier in the week, 40-80 cm of storm snow now sits above a widespread rain crust up to about 1300 m. At treeline and above, the storm snow is settling above wind slabs that formed on lee and cross loaded features in days before the storm. Our new snow has effectively shifted this wind slab problem into a more generalized storm slab issue. Below our the storm snow forming the upper snowpack, several buried surface hoar layers can be expected roughly 50-100 cm deep. Before the storm, these layers had been yielding moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. Many areas have hard slabs in the mid snowpack above weak sugary snow near the ground. Triggering a deep persistent slab above this sugary snow will remain a low probability high consequence scenario for some time, with probability increasing as sustained strong winds redistribute loose snow and add load to specific areas of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">30-60 cm of old snow has settled over the mid-January interface which consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas and/or widespread faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Ongoing moderate to strong winds in exposed terrain have been forming new wind slabs over the weekend. The new snow and strong winds on Sunday night are expected to add additional load to these touchy wind slabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-December surface hoar/facet persistent weakness can now be found down 100-120 cm. This weakness is currently dormant in the south of the region, but sensitive to human-triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/cariboos" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Read the Cariboo forecast for more information.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">50-70 cm of old snow has settled over the mid-January interface which consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, old wind slabs in exposed terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved. Ongoing moderate to strong winds in exposed terrain have been forming new wind slabs over the weekend. The new snow and strong winds on Sunday night are expected to add additional load to these touchy wind slabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-December surface hoar/facet weakness is now found down 50 cm in shallow snowpack areas, or as much as 1.5 m in deeper snowpack areas. This layer woke up during the last storm and has remained reactive to human triggers. This weak layer is responsible for several large human-triggered avalanches, including some with multiple burials, and this sensitivity is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">For more information, check out this video of our field team testing the snowpack near Barkerville: https://vimeo.com/201318688 </span><a href="https://vimeo.com/201318688" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">or click here.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A variety of surface conditions exist including wind affected snow, sun crusts, shallowly buried surface hoar, and pockets of light snow. A total of 30-50 cm of settled storm snow now sits above a weak interface that was buried in mid-January. The interface is composed of weak facets, surface hoar, and/or sun crusts. The strength of this interface is variable, but has continued to give some sudden results and propagations in snowpack tests. Areas with thin snowpacks (e.g. less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. These deeper weaknesses warrant long term monitoring, as they could reawaken with a sudden change in the weather.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snowpack is settling with the warm temperatures. Wind slabs are widespread in lee and cross-loaded features in the Alpine and in open areas at Treeline due to recent extreme westerly winds. These slabs sit on a weak and faceted mid-pack and basal layers. The snowpack at lower elevations remains shallow, weak and facetted and only supports the weight of a skier on previously established paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Sunday's cold front delivered 5-10 cm of new snow to the region. Strong southwest winds have likely formed wind slabs in the lee of exposed ridges. The new snow may bond poorly to sun crusts on steep south facing slopes. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent strong shifting winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. A new sun crust is being reported on steep solar aspects. The mid-January interface is now down 20-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent strong shifting winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. A new sun crust is being reported on steep solar aspects. The mid-January interface is now down </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">20-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, old wind slabs in exposed terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-December surface hoar/facet weakness from is down 50-100 cm and is generally considered dormant. However, a few storm slab and wind slab avalanches stepped down to this layer last week in isolated areas. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the weakness is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A recent dusting of light snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong winds and covers previous wind affected surfaces in exposed areas. Buried crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600m. The lower snowpack appears to be well settled. There have been isolated reports of a surface hoar layer buried in early January about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas. Last week the height of snow in the First Peak area was reported at 140 cm at an elevation of 1950 metres. The top 50 cm of the snowpack was a stiff pencil hardness above a softer layer of December facets. The November crust in this location was 15 cm thick at the base of the snowpack and breaking down into weak faceted crystals.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of recent low density snow has been redistributed over previous hard, wind-affected surfaces forming additional thin layers of wind slab in lee terrain at higher elevations. Below 1500 metres you may find an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick.  The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region.  In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. For instance, in the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain last week the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. In these areas, the wind has formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong winds and 5-15 cm of new snow over the weekend have formed fresh wind slabs in the lee of exposed terrain. The new snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of surface hoar, potentially creating weak interfaces for wind slabs to propagate along. Old lingering wind slabs may also exist in the immediate lee of ridges. A total of 60-120 cm of settled storm snow now forms the upper snowpack and is well generally bonded to a crust below. The exception may be thin rocky areas. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled, but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that warrant long term monitoring.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Sunday's storm delivered 10 cm of new snow. Strong southwest winds have left wind slabs lingering in the lee of exposed terrain. The new snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of surface hoar, potentially creating weak interfaces for wind slabs to propagate along. In southern areas (e.g. Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is well settled. In northern areas (e.g. Duffey Lake), the mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 50-80 cm deep. This interface produced large avalanches two weeks ago during the last major storm, and may still be poorly bonded in thin snowpack areas such as the South Chilcotins.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A storm that impacted the region over Friday to Sunday morning delivered approximately 60-110 cm of new snow to the mountains, with the greatest depths accumulating in coastal areas. Strong to extreme southwesterly winds accompanied the storm while lower elevations saw precipitation falling as rain. It can be expected that 70-130 cm have accumulated above above the latest buried surface hoar layer from January 23rd. This surface hoar was previously reported growing up to size 10mm at tree line and below. It may be sitting on a crust below 1100m. Although storm slab activity has captured our attention, there continue to be several other surface hoar layers of concern from early January and Christmas. Some reports have shown these persistent weak layers to be rounding and bonding, however recent reports have shown hard sudden results in snowpack tests. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A series of snowfalls last week accumulated 40-80 cm of storm snow, which now sits above a widespread rain crust up to about 1300 m. At tree line and above, the storm snow is settling and/or being redistributed into new wind slabs. Below, several buried surface hoar layers can be found, between 50-100 cm deep. Before the storm, these layers had been yielding moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. The new load sitting on top has reached a critical level and woken up a deep persistent slab problem in many parts of the region. The consequences of triggering an avalanche on this layer are </span><span class="s_2823317B">high</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">. This is a good time to be very cautious and disciplined with terrain choices.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent strong shifting winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. A new sun crust is being reported on steep solar aspects. The mid-January interface is now down </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">30-60 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, old wind slabs, and/or widespread faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-December surface hoar/facet persistent weakness can now be found down 100-120 cm. This weakness is currently dormant in the south of the region, but may still be sensitive to human-triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/cariboos" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Read the Cariboo forecast for more information.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent strong shifting winds have redistributed the new snow and formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. In the north of the region which received more recent snowfall, a more widespread storm slab may have developed.  The mid-January interface is now down </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">50-70 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, old wind slabs in exposed terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-December surface hoar/facet weakness is now found down 50 cm in shallow snowpack areas, or as much as 1.5 m in deeper snowpack areas. This layer woke up during the last storm and has remained reactive to human triggers. This weak layer is responsible for several large human-triggered avalanches, including some with multiple burials, and the layer may continue to remain reactive for the foreseeable future.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">For more information, check out this video of our field team testing the snowpack near Barkerville: https://vimeo.com/201318688 </span><a href="https://vimeo.com/201318688" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">or click here.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A variety of surface conditions exist including wind affected snow, sun crusts, shallowly buried surface hoar, and pockets of light snow. A total of 30-50 cm of settled snow now sits above a weak interface that was buried in mid-January. The interface is composed of weak facets, surface hoar, and/or sun crusts. The strength of this interface is variable, but has continued to give some sudden results and propagations in snowpack tests. Areas with thin snowpacks (e.g. less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. These deeper weaknesses warrant long term monitoring, as they could reawaken with a sudden change in the weather.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wind slabs are widespread in lee and cross-loaded features in the Alpine and in open areas at Treeline due to recent extreme westerly winds. These slabs sit on a weak and faceted mid-pack and basal layers. The snowpack at lower elevations remains shallow, weak and facetted and only supports the weight of a skier on previously established paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Sunday's storm delivered 5-10 cm of heavy snow to the region. A solid surface crust has formed at lower elevations. At higher elevations, small wind slabs may be lingering in the lee of exposed ridges. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A few centimetres of recent new snow with strong shifting winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. A sun crust is being reported on steep solar aspects. Surface faceting is also being reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. The mid-January interface is now down 20-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">5-20cm of recent new snow with strong shifting winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. A sun crust is being reported on steep solar aspects. Surface faceting is also being reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. The mid-January interface is now down 20-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, old wind slabs in exposed terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-December surface hoar/facet weakness from is down 50-100 cm and is generally considered dormant. However, a few storm slab and wind slab avalanches stepped down to this layer last week in isolated areas. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the weakness is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent light snowfall has been redistributed into thin wind slabs by strong winds. In general, snow surfaces are best described as heavily wind affected with scouring and sastrugi formation noted on many terrain features. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600m. There have been isolated reports of a surface hoar layer from early January buried about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas, although not much is known about its current reactivity. About 70cm below the surface, you'll find sugary facet crystals which formed during December's cold snap. Although avalanches are currently unexpected at this interface, this layer could come back to life with with warming, significant loading or a large trigger at a thin spot.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of recent low density snow has been redistributed over previous hard, wind-affected surfaces forming additional thin layers of wind slab in lee terrain at higher elevations. Below 1500 metres you may find an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. For instance, in the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain last week the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. In these areas, the wind has formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds and up to 15 cm of recent snow over the weekend have formed fresh reactive wind slabs in the lee of exposed terrain. The new snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of buried surface hoar. Some recent snowpack tests have shown hard, yet sudden planar results on the mid-January interface (facets) buried approximately 45 cm down. A total of 60-120 cm of settled storm snow now forms the upper snowpack and is generally bonded to a crust below. The exception may be thin rocky areas. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled, but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that warrant long term monitoring.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Last weekend the region received approximately 10 cm of new snow accompanied by strong southwest winds. This has left lingering wind slabs in the lee of exposed terrain. The new snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of surface hoar, potentially creating weak interfaces for wind slabs to propagate along. In southern areas (e.g. Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is well settled. In northern areas (e.g. Duffey Lake), the mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 50-80 cm. This interface produced large avalanches two weeks ago during the last major storm, and may still be poorly bonded in thin snowpack areas such as the South Chilcotins.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last weekend, between 60-110 cm of new snow fell with the greatest amounts accumulating in coastal areas. Strong to extreme southwesterly winds accompanied the storm and much deeper deposits can be found in higher elevation lee terrain. At lower elevations, precipitation fell as rain and a surface (or near-surface) crust may now be found below about 1000m. Below the recent storm snow you'll likely find a couple of buried surface hoar layers from January 18th and January 23rd. These surface hoar layers continue to produce easy to hard sudden planar shears in snowpack tests, and should be approached with caution, especially in sheltered treeline terrain. The snowpack below this is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A series of snowfalls last week accumulated 40-80 cm of storm snow, which now sits above a widespread rain crust up to about 1300 m. At tree line and above, the storm snow is settling and/or being redistributed into new wind slabs. Below, several buried surface hoar layers can be found, between 50-100 cm deep. Before the storm, these layers had been yielding moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. The new load sitting on top has reached a critical level and has woken-up a deep persistent slab problem in many parts of the region. The consequences of triggering an avalanche on this layer are </span><span class="s_2823317B">high</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">. This is a good time to be very cautious and disciplined with terrain choices.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 15 cm of recent new snow with strong shifting winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. A sun crust is being reported on steep solar aspects. Surface faceting is also being reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. The mid-January interface is now down 30-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, old wind slabs, and/or widespread faceted old snow. The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-December surface hoar/facet persistent weakness can now be found down 100-120 cm. This weak layer has become inactive in the south of the region, but may still be reactive to triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/cariboos" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Read the Cariboo forecast for more information.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-60 cm of new snow accumulated on Sunday and Monday with the largest amounts in the north of the region.  Strong shifting winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. The mid-January interface is now down 50-100 cm</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, old wind slabs in exposed terrain, and/or widespread faceted old snow. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The interface has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The mid-December surface hoar/facet weakness is now found down 70 cm in shallow snowpack areas, or as much as 1.5 m in deeper snowpack areas. This layer woke up during the last storm and has remained reactive to human triggers. This weak layer is responsible for several large human-triggered avalanches, including some with multiple burials, and the layer may continue to remain reactive for the foreseeable future.  </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/blogs/nearmisses-freegifts" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Click here for a new blog post with more details.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A variety of surface conditions exist including wind effected snow, sun crusts and surface hoar. Up to 50cm of settled snow now sits above an interface that was buried in mid-January. The interface is composed of facets, surface hoar, and/or sun crusts and the strength of this interface is reportedly variable. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results on that interface. Areas with thin snowpacks (e.g. less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring and create a complicating picture especially when it comes to terrain selection and decision making. These layers may sit dormant now with this stable weather pattern but they could reawaken with a change.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind slabs on most aspects in alpine and open areas at tree line.  These wind slabs are sitting on a weak and faceted mid-pack and basal layer.  The snow pack at lower elevations is shallow and faceted throughout, thus not supporting the weight of a skier unless on previously established ski paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 10 cm of heavy snow fell in the region last weekend. Current cold temperatures have formed  a solid surface crust at lower elevations. At higher elevations, small wind slabs may be lingering in the lee of exposed ridges. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Light amounts of recent snow with strong shifting winds have resulted in fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain. A sun crust is being reported on steep solar aspects. Surface faceting is also being reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 20-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">5-20cm of recent snow with strong shifting winds resulted in wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. A sun crust is being reported on steep sun-exposed slopes. Surface faceting is also being reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 20-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness buried mid-December may be found down 50-100 cm, but is generally considered dormant. However, a few storm slab and wind slab avalanches stepped down to this layer last week in isolated areas. This layer remains an isolated concern for shallow snowpack areas where the weakness is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In general, snow surfaces are best described as heavily wind affected with scouring and sastrugi formation noted on many terrain features. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600m. There have been isolated reports of a surface hoar layer from early January buried about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas, although not much is known about its current reactivity. About 70cm below the surface, you'll find sugary facet crystals which formed during December's cold snap. Although avalanches are currently unexpected at this interface, this layer could come back to life with with warming, significant loading or a large trigger at a thin spot.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Any of the new snow that fell last week has been redistributed over previous hard, wind-affected surfaces forming additional thin layers of wind slab in lee terrain at higher elevations. Below 1500 metres you may find an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. For instance, in the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain last week the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. In these areas, the wind has formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 15 cm of snow fell last weekend. That combined with strong winds have formed stiff, yet reactive wind slabs in the lee of exposed terrain. The new snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of buried surface hoar, which provides a weak sliding interface below the new snow. Some recent snowpack tests have shown hard, yet sudden planar results on the mid-January interface (facets) buried approximately 60-100 cm down. A total of 60-120 cm of settled storm snow now forms the upper snowpack and is generally bonded to a crust below. The exception may be thin rocky areas. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled, but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but require monitoring with significant change</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Last weekend the region received approximately 10 cm of new snow accompanied by strong southwest winds. Lingering reactive wind slabs and wind scoured snow exist on exposed terrain at treeline and in the alpine. The new snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of surface hoar, potentially creating weak interfaces for wind slabs to propagate along. In northern areas (Duffey), the mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 50-80 cm down. This interface produced large avalanches a week during the storm, and may still be poorly bonded in thin snowpack areas such as the Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled compared to the North.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last weekend, between 60-110 cm of new snow fell with the greatest amounts accumulating in coastal areas. Strong to extreme southwesterly winds accompanied the storm and much deeper deposits can be found in higher elevation lee terrain. At lower elevations, precipitation fell as rain and a surface (or near-surface) crust may now be found below about 1000m. Below the recent storm snow you'll likely find a couple of buried surface hoar layers from January 18th and January 23rd. These surface hoar layers continue to produce easy to hard sudden planar shears in snowpack tests, and should be approached with caution, especially in sheltered tree line terrain. The snowpack below this is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A series of snowfalls last week accumulated 40-80 cm of storm snow, which now sits above a widespread rain crust up to about 1300 m. At tree line and above, the storm snow is settling and/or being redistributed into new wind slabs. Below, several buried surface hoar layers can be found, between 50-100 cm deep. Before the storm, these layers had been yielding moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. The new load sitting on top has reached a critical level and has woken-up a deep persistent slab problem in many parts of the region. The consequences of triggering an avalanche on this layer are </span><span class="s_2823317B">high</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">. This is a good time to be very cautious and disciplined with terrain choices.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 15 cm of recent snow with strong shifting winds have resulted in fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. A sun crust is being reported on steep solar aspects. Surface faceting is also being reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 30-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness was buried mid-December and can now be found down 100-120 cm. It has become inactive in the south of the region, but may still be sensitive to triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/cariboos" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Read the Cariboo forecast for more information.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-60 cm of recent snow (with the largest amounts in northern parts of the region) and strong shifting winds have resulted in fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. The persistent weakness buried mid-January is now down 50-100 cm</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It</span><span class="s_3FE45715"> has generally stabilized but may remain sensitive to triggers in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet weakness was buried mid-December and can now be found down 70 cm in shallow snowpack areas, or as much as 1.5 m in deeper snowpack areas. It woke up during the last storm and has remained reactive to human triggers. This weak layer is responsible for several large human-triggered avalanches, including some with multiple burials, and the layer may continue to remain reactive for the foreseeable future. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/blogs/nearmisses-freegifts" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Click here for a new blog post with more details.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In exposed areas at treeline and in the alpine, the surface snow consists of stiff wind slab or wind effected snow. Adding to the mix you may see sun crust on steep southerly slopes and surface hoar. Below the surface, 50-65 cm of settled snow now sits above an interface that was buried in mid-January. The interface is composed of facets, surface hoar, and/or sun crusts and the strength is reportedly variable. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results on that interface. Areas with thin snowpacks (e.g. less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring and create a complicating picture. It may be a low probability that you would trigger an avalanche that failed on these basal facets, however; the consequences could be detrimental. This makes for tricky especially decision making. These layers may be unreactive or even sit dormant now with this stable weather pattern but they could reawaken with a change.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 10 cm of heavy snow fell in the region last weekend. Current cold temperatures have formed a solid surface crust up to 1400m. At higher elevations, small wind slabs may be lingering in the lee of exposed ridges. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded with the average snowpack depth up to 300 cm at treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Light amounts of recent snow with strong shifting winds have resulted in fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain. A sun crust is being reported on steep solar aspects and surface hoar is growing on sheltered open slopes. Surface faceting is also being reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 20-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">5-20cm of recent snow with strong shifting winds (including down-slope &quot;katabatic&quot; winds) have resulted in touchy wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. A sun crust is being reported on steep sun-exposed slopes and small surface hoar has been growing on sheltered open slopes. Surface faceting is also being reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 20-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness buried mid-December may be found down 50-100 cm, but is generally considered dormant. This and deeper persistent weaknesses remain an isolated concern in shallow snowpack areas where the weakness is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In general, snow surfaces are best described as heavily wind affected with scouring and sastrugi formation noted on many terrain features tree line and above. Crusts can be found near the surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600m. There have been isolated reports of a surface hoar layer from early January buried about 40 cm deep in sheltered areas, although not much is known about its current reactivity. About 70cm below the surface, you'll find sugary facet crystals which formed during December's cold snap. Although avalanches are currently unexpected at this interface, this layer could come back to life with with warming, significant loading or a large trigger at a thin spot.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The story in the upper snowpack right now is all about wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations. Below 1500 metres you may find an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. For instance, in the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain last week the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. In these areas, the wind has formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds have formed stiff, yet reactive wind slabs in the lee of exposed terrain. Up to 15 cm of snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of buried surface hoar. Some recent snowpack tests have shown hard, yet sudden planar results on the mid-January interface (facets) buried approximately 60-100 cm down. A total of 60-120 cm of settled storm snow now forms the upper snowpack and is generally bonded to a crust below. The exception may be thin rocky areas. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled, but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but require monitoring with significant change</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Lingering reactive wind slabs and wind scoured snow exist on exposed terrain at treeline and in the alpine. The new snow sits above a thin breakable sun crust and isolated pockets of surface hoar, potentially creating weak interfaces for wind slabs to propagate along. In northern areas (Duffey), the mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 50-80 cm down and remains a concern especially in shallower snowpack areas like the Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled compared to the North.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snow from last week has been long redistributed by continuous strong winds to create widespread wind effect at upper elevations. At lower elevations, precipitation fell as rain and a surface (or near-surface) crust may now be found below about 1000m. Below the recent storm snow you'll likely find a couple of buried surface hoar layers from January 18th and January 23rd. These surface hoar layers continue to produce easy to hard sudden planar shears in snowpack tests, and should be approached with caution, especially in sheltered tree line terrain. The snowpack below this is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last weekend's snowfall sits above a rain crust up to about 1300 m in many parts of the region. At tree line and above, the storm snow is settling and/or being redistributed into new wind slabs. Below, several buried surface hoar layers can be found, between 50-100 cm deep. Before the storm, these layers had been yielding moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. The new load from last week reached a critical level and woke up a deep persistent slab problem in many parts of the region. Currently the probability of triggering an avalanche on those deeper layers has lowered but the consequence remains </span><span class="s_2823317B">high</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">. It is still a good time to be cautious and disciplined with terrain choices at upper elevations.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 15 cm of recent snow with strong shifting winds have resulted in fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. A sun crust is being reported on steep solar aspects and surface hoar is growing on sheltered open slopes. Surface faceting is also being reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 30-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness was buried mid-December and can now be found down 100-120 cm. It has become inactive in the south of the region, but may still be sensitive to triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. It is highly recommended to investigate this layer before committing to any large, unsupported features. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/cariboos" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Read the Cariboo forecast for more information.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-60 cm of recent snow (with the largest amounts in northern parts of the region) and strong shifting winds have resulted in fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. Surface snow is faceting and surface hoar is growing on sheltered open slopes. The persistent weakness buried mid-January is now down 50-100 cm</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It</span><span class="s_3FE45715"> has generally stabilized but may remain sensitive to triggers in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet weakness was buried mid-December and can now be found down 70 cm in shallow snowpack areas, or as much as 1.5 m in deeper snowpack areas. It woke up during the last storm and has remained reactive to human triggers. This weak layer is responsible for several large human-triggered avalanches, including some with multiple burials, and the layer may continue to remain reactive for the foreseeable future. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/blogs/nearmisses-freegifts" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Click here for a new blog post with more details.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In exposed areas at treeline and in the alpine, the surface snow consists of stiff wind slab or wind effected snow. Adding to the mix you may see sun crust on steep southerly slopes and surface hoar in sheltered areas. Below the surface, 50-65 cm of settled snow now sits above an interface that was buried in mid-January. The interface is composed of facets, surface hoar, and/or sun crusts and the strength is reportedly variable. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results on that interface. Areas with thin snowpacks (e.g. less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring and create a complicating picture. It may be a low probability that you would trigger an avalanche that failed on these basal facets, however; the consequences could be detrimental. This makes for tricky especially decision making. These layers may be unreactive or even sit dormant now with this stable weather pattern but they could reawaken with a change.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affect can be found in the alpine and open treeline areas. This translates to a hard slab resting on top of the very weak mid to lower snowpack. Not a lot of cracking or whumphing was noted today, but hollow sounding slabs are very common. On east aspects there are still pockets of wind sifted snow that offers some good skiing. Below treeline is the same old story. Mostly a weak and un-supportive snowpack. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20 cm of new snow is expected to fall over the region today. This new storm snow will likely have a poor bond to the old snow surfaces which consist of a firm crust and hard wind press. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded with the average snowpack depth up to 300 cm at treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">New snow over Friday has now buried a range of different conditions that existed at our previous surface. In addition to wind slabs that exist on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain, the new snow will also overlie a sun crust reported on steep solar aspects as well as surface hoar recently found growing on sheltered open slopes. Surface faceting has also been reported as a result of the recent cold temperatures. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 20-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow over Friday has now covered a range of different conditions that existed at our previous surface. In addition to wind slabs that exist on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain, the new snow will also overlie a sun crust reported on steep sun-exposed slopes as well as small surface hoar recently found growing on sheltered open slopes. Surface faceting was also recently reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 20-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness buried mid-December may be found down 50-100 cm, but is generally considered dormant. This and deeper persistent weaknesses remain an isolated concern in shallow snowpack areas where the weakness is closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Anywhere from 10-20cm of new snow is laying on previous surfaces that may include heavily wind affected snow, surface hoar in sheltered areas and/or facets. Crusts can be found near the previous surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600m. There have been isolated reports of a surface hoar layer from early January buried about 40-50cm deep in sheltered areas, although not much is known about its current reactivity. About 70cm below the surface, you'll find sugary facet crystals which formed during December's cold snap. Although avalanches are currently unexpected at this interface, this layer could come back to life with with warming, significant loading or a large trigger at a thin spot.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Taking regional variations into consideration, 5-10cm of new snow may overlay wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations. Below 1500 metres you may find an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. For instance, in the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain last week the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. In these areas, the wind has formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. The mid-January interface (facets) is buried approximately 60-100 cm down and recent snowpack tests have shown hard, yet sudden planar results. A total of 60-120 cm of settled storm snow now forms the upper snowpack and is generally bonded to a crust below. The exception may be thin rocky areas that host deeper weaknesses. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled, but still feature a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but require monitoring with significant change.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. The mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 50-80 cm and the mid-December facets down 90-120 cm remain a concern especially in shallower snowpack areas like the Duffey, Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring especially through periods of more load. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled compared to the North. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snow from last week has been long redistributed by continuous strong winds to create widespread wind effect at upper elevations. At lower elevations, precipitation fell as rain and a surface (or near-surface) crust may now be found below about 1000m. Below the recent storm snow you'll likely find a couple of buried surface hoar layers from January 18th and January 23rd. These surface hoar layers continue to produce easy to hard sudden shears in snowpack tests, and should be approached with caution, especially in sheltered tree line terrain. The snowpack below this is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last weekend's snowfall sits above a rain crust up to about 1300 m in many parts of the region. At tree line and above, the storm snow is settling and/or being redistributed into new wind slabs. Below, several buried surface hoar layers can be found, between 50-100 cm deep. Reports from last week indicate these layers had been yielding moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. The new load from last week reached a critical level and woke up a deep persistent slab problem in many parts of the region. Currently the probability of triggering an avalanche on those deeper layers has lowered but the consequence remains </span><span class="s_2823317B">high</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">. It is still a good time to be cautious and disciplined with terrain choices at upper elevations.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow from Friday has now buried a range of surfaces that have developed over the past week. Along with wind slabs that recently formed on a wide range of aspects, the new snow will also bury a sun crust that was reported on steep solar aspects as well as surface hoar found on sheltered open slopes. Surface faceting was also recently reported as a result of cold temperatures over the week. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 30-50 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness was buried mid-December and can now be found down 100-120 cm. It has become inactive in the south of the region, but may still be sensitive to triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/cariboos" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Read the Cariboo forecast for more information.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-60 cm of recent snow (with the largest amounts in northern parts of the region) and strong shifting winds have resulted in fresh wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain. Meanwhile, cold temperatures have promoted both the faceting of surface snow as well as the growth of surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. The persistent weakness buried mid-January is now down 50-100 cm</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It</span><span class="s_3FE45715"> has generally stabilized but may remain sensitive to human triggers in isolated areas, especially where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet weakness was buried mid-December and can now be found down 70 cm in shallow snowpack areas, or as much as 1.5 m in deeper snowpack areas. It woke up during the last storm and has remained reactive to human triggers. This weak layer is responsible for several large human-triggered avalanches, including some with multiple burials, and the layer may remain reactive for the foreseeable future. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/blogs/nearmisses-freegifts" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Click here for a new blog post with more details.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow has buried a variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes and surface hoar in sheltered areas. Below the surface, 50-65 cm of settled snow now sits above an interface that was buried in mid-January. The interface is composed of weak facets, surface hoar, and/or sun crusts and the strength of the bond is reportedly variable. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results on that interface. Areas with a shallower snowpack (less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring and create a complicating picture. It may be a low probability that you would trigger an avalanche that failed on these basal facets, however; the consequences could be detrimental. These layers may be unreactive but they could reawaken with more snow load.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">As of this afternoon snow has started to fall on the Spray Rd. Amounts are still small, but so far all indications are that we'll have 5cm by tomorrow morning. This snow will hide the widespread hardslabs in the alpine and windslabs at treeline. At the moment, there are multiple slabs within the snowpack to be concerned about. At treeline and alpine elevations, the bond between these slabs is suspect and not especially strong. The other layer we are watching closely is the deeper Nov 12 depth hoar/facet layer. This is down 80cm at treeline and worth investigating. This layer is widespread and won't adjust to a new snow load for some time.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 15 cm of new snow has buried old snow surfaces which consist of a firm crust and hard wind press. The new storm snow will likely have a poor bond tho these surfaces. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded with the average snowpack depth up to 300 cm at treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Around 20 cm of new snow over Friday and Saturday has now buried a range of different conditions that existed at our previous surface. In addition to wind slabs that exist on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain, the new snow also overlies a sun crust reported on steep solar aspects as well as surface hoar recently found growing on sheltered open slopes. Surface faceting has also been reported as a result of the recent cold temperatures. The bond of the new snow to these underlying surfaces will likely be weak and touchy conditions can be expected as the new snow settles into storm slabs above them. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 30-60 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow over Friday and Saturday has now covered a range of different conditions that existed at our previous surface. In addition to wind slabs that exist on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain, the new snow will also overlie a sun crust reported on steep sun-exposed slopes as well as surface hoar recently found growing on sheltered open slopes. Surface faceting was also recently reported as a result of the current cold temperatures. The new snow's bond to these surfaces will likely be weak and touchy conditions can be expected as it settles into storm slabs above them. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 30-60 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness buried mid-December may be found down 600-110 cm, but is generally considered dormant. This and deeper persistent weaknesses remain an isolated concern in shallow snowpack areas where they lie closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Anywhere from 15-30cm of new, low-density snow sits on previous surfaces that may include heavily wind affected snow, surface hoar in sheltered areas and/or facets. By Saturday afternoon the new storm snow was forming slabs and running naturally on northerly aspects in the Corbin zone. Crusts can be found near the previous surface on solar aspects at high elevations and on all aspects below 1600m. The hard windslabs below the recent storm snow have not bonded well to the previous surface and are easy to trigger in isolated lee and cross-loaded features. About 70cm below the surface, you'll find sugary facet crystals which formed during December's cold snap. Although avalanches are currently unexpected at this interface, this layer could come back to life with with warming, significant loading or a large trigger at a thin spot.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Taking regional variations into consideration, 15-25cm of new snow typically sits on wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations. This new snow is forming touchy soft slabs on all aspects as winds have been shifting on Saturday. Below 1500 metres you may find an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. For instance, in the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain last week the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. In these areas, the wind has formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-40 cm of new snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. An additional 15-20 cm is expected by Sunday morning, bringing storm totals to 40-60 cm. The mid-January interface (facets) is buried approximately 60-100 cm down and recent snowpack tests have shown hard, yet sudden planar results. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled (strong). However, there remain a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but will require monitoring with additional loading.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-25 cm of new snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. An additional 20-25 cm of new snow is expected by Sunday morning, bringing storm totals up to 35-50 cm(lower amounts in the north). The mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 50-80 cm and the mid-December facets down 90-120 cm remain a concern especially in shallower snowpack areas like the Duffey, Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring especially through periods of more load. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled(stronger), than it is to the north. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snow from last week has been redistributed by continuous strong to extreme outflow winds, creating widespread wind effect at upper elevations. Touchy wind slabs up to 45cm thick were running on relatively low angled terrain near 1300m in the Shames backcountry. At lower elevations, precipitation fell as rain and a surface (or near-surface) crust may now be found below about 1000m. Below the recent storm snow the January 18th rain crust is producing moderate sudden shears down 85cm in snowpack tests; however, it isn't showing signs of propagation being likely. The snowpack below this is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last weekend's snowfall sits on a rain crust up to about 1400 m in many parts of the region. At tree line and above, the storm snow is settling and/or being redistributed into new wind slabs, especially on south/southeast aspects. Below, several buried surface hoar layers can be found, between 30-70 cm deep. Reports from last week indicate these layers had been yielding moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. The new load from last week reached a critical level and woke up a deep persistent slab problem in many parts of the region, especially shallower (100-140cm) snowpack areas. Currently the probability of triggering an avalanche on those deeper layers has lowered but the consequence remains high. It is still a good time to be cautious and disciplined with terrain choices at upper elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20 cm of new, low-density snow from Friday and Saturday has now buried a range of surface conditions that developed over the past week. Along with wind slabs that recently formed on a wide range of aspects, the new snow has also buried a sun crust that was reported on steep solar aspects as well as surface hoar found on sheltered open slopes in the days before the storm. Surface faceting was also reported as a result of cold temperatures over the week. The new snow will likely form a weak bond to these surfaces and touchy conditions can be expected as it accumulates into storm slabs above them. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 40-60 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness was buried mid-December and can now be found down 110-130 cm. It has become inactive in the south of the region, but may still be sensitive to triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/cariboos" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Read the Cariboo forecast for more information.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-25 cm of new snow has buried a variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes and surface hoar in sheltered areas. Another 15-20 cm is expected by Sunday morning bringing storm totals to 35-45 cm. Below the surface, 50-65 cm of settled snow now sits above an interface that was buried in mid-January. The interface is composed of weak facets, surface hoar, and/or sun crusts and the strength of the bond is reportedly variable. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results on that interface. Areas with a shallower snowpack (less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. Smaller storm slab avalanches may step-down to these deeper weak layers, resulting in large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_1681A555">20cm of recent storm snow (2150m) sits on top of a widespread hard wind slab from the Jan 29th wind event. The thickness of this slab varies between 10 &amp; 30cm. A touchy facet layer sits below the hard wind slab. The midpack is consistently weak. The Nov 12 basal crust is still intact in some areas with depth hoar and facets below. The storm came in with very little wind. At the moment its thought there are isolated alpine storm slabs in immediate lee areas</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">35-40 cm of new snow is sitting on a knife hard crust/ice glaze. These storm slabs have been very reactive to human triggers. An additional 20-25 cm is expected by Sunday morning which will increase the expected size and destructive nature of the avalanches. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded with the average snowpack depth up to 300 cm at treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">20-30 cm of new snow over Friday and Saturday has now buried a range of different conditions that existed at our previous surface. In addition to wind slabs that exist on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain, the new snow also overlies a sun crust recently reported on steep solar aspects as well as surface hoar recently found growing on sheltered open slopes. Surface faceting has also been reported as a result of last week's cold temperatures. The bond of the new snow to these underlying surfaces will likely be weak and touchy conditions can be expected as the new snow continues to accumulate into storm slabs above them. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 40-70 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20-40 cm of new snow over Friday and Saturday has now covered a range of different conditions that existed at our previous surface. In addition to wind slabs that existed on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain, the new snow also overlies a sun crust recently reported on steep sun-exposed slopes as well as surface hoar recently found growing on sheltered open slopes. Surface faceting was also recently reported as a result of last week's cold temperatures. The new snow's bond to these surfaces will likely be weak and touchy conditions can be expected as it continues to accumulate into storm slabs above them. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 40-80 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness buried mid-December may be found down 70-120 cm, but is generally considered dormant. This and deeper persistent weaknesses remain an isolated concern in shallow snowpack areas where they lie closer to the snow surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Anywhere from 25-45cm of new, low-density snow sits on previous surfaces that may include heavily wind affected snow, surface hoar in sheltered areas and/or facets. This new snow has been transported by west through southeast winds and is forming touchy storm slabs up to 80cm thick at almost all elevations and aspects. By Saturday afternoon the new storm snow was forming slabs and running naturally on northerly aspects in the Corbin zone. The hard windslabs below the recent storm snow have not bonded well to the previous surface and are easy to trigger in isolated lee and cross-loaded features. About 70cm below the surface, you'll find sugary facet crystals which formed during December's cold snap. Although avalanches are currently unexpected at this interface, this layer could come back to life with with warming, significant loading or a large trigger at a thin spot.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Storm snow totals are taking on epic proportions near Castle mountain with upwards of 60cm falling in the past two days. Across the region, 25-60cm of new snow typically sits on wind-affected surfaces at higher elevations. This new snow is forming touchy soft slabs on all aspects in the alpine and treeline as winds were shifting on Saturday. Below 1500 metres you may find an isolated thin breakable rain crust about 1 cm thick. The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50-100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. For instance, in the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain last week the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. In these areas, the wind has formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-90 cm of recent storm snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. The mid-January interface (facets) is buried approximately 100-180 cm down. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled (strong). However, there remain a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but will require monitoring with additional loading.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">35-50 cm(lower amounts in the north) of recent storm snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. The mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 50-80 cm and the mid-December facets down 90-120 cm remain a concern especially in shallower snowpack areas like the Duffey, Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring especially through periods of more load. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled(stronger), than it is to the north. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snow from last week has been redistributed by continuous strong to extreme (north) easterly outflow winds, creating widespread wind effect. Touchy wind slabs on south/southwest aspects up to 45cm thick were running on relatively low angled terrain near 1300m in the Shames backcountry. At lower elevations, precipitation fell as rain and a surface (or near-surface) crust may now be found below about 1000m. Below the recent storm snow the January 18th rain crust is producing moderate sudden shears down 85cm in snowpack tests; however, it isn't showing signs of propagation being likely. The snowpack below this is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets (under wind slab) remain an ongoing concern, especially in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last weekend's snowfall sits on a rain crust up to about 1400 m in many parts of the region. At tree line and above, the storm snow is settling and/or being redistributed into new wind slabs, especially on west through southeast aspects. Below, several buried surface hoar layers can be found, between 30-70 cm deep. Reports from last week indicate these layers had been yielding moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. The new load from last week reached a critical level and woke up a deep persistent slab problem in many parts of the region, especially shallower (100-140cm) snowpack areas. Currently the probability of triggering an avalanche on those deeper layers has lowered but the consequence remains high. It is still a good time to be cautious and disciplined with terrain choices at upper elevations.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10 to 25 cm of new, low-density snow from Friday and Saturday has now buried a range of surface conditions that developed over the past week. Along with wind slabs recently formed on a wide range of aspects, the new snow has also buried a sun crust that was reported on steep solar aspects as well as surface hoar found on sheltered open slopes in the days before the storm. Surface faceting was also reported as a result of cold temperatures last week. The new snow will likely form a weak bond to these surfaces and touchy conditions can be expected as it continues to accumulate into storm slabs above them. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 40-60 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness was buried mid-December and can now be found down 110-130 cm. It has become inactive in the south of the region, but may still be sensitive to triggers in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/cariboos" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Read the Cariboo forecast for more information.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light snowfall over the past few days (mainly in the south of the region) has given a thin cover to wind slabs that currently exist on a variety of aspects in wind-exposed terrain. In more sheltered areas, the new snow has also begun burying both faceted surface snow as well as surface hoar that exists on sheltered open slopes. The persistent weakness buried mid-January is now down 50-100 cm</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It</span><span class="s_3FE45715"> has generally stabilized but may remain sensitive to human triggers in isolated areas, especially where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet weakness was buried mid-December and can now be found down 70 cm in shallow snowpack areas, or as much as 1.5 m in deeper snowpack areas. It woke up during the last storm and has remained reactive to human triggers. This weak layer is responsible for several large human-triggered avalanches, including some with multiple burials, and the layer may remain reactive for the foreseeable future. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/blogs/nearmisses-freegifts" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Click here for a new blog post with more details.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25-45 cm of recent storm snow has created touchy storm slabs at all elevations and aspects. Another 25-45 cm is expected by Monday evening bringing storm totals to 50-90 cm. Snowfall amounts are expected to be highest around Kootenay Pass and taper dramatically as you go north. These slabs have been reported as being very reactive to human triggers and are sitting on a variety of surfaces; including scoured surfaces in wind exposed terrain, surface hoar(size 2-3 mm) in sheltered locations, and sun crust on steep solar aspects. 40-70 cm of snow now overlies the weak layer of surface hoar(feathery crystals) and facets(sugar snow) that was buried in mid-January. There have been no recent reports of avalanches on this interface, but this may change with the increasing load. Areas with a shallower snowpack (less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. It is possible for storm slab avalanches to step-down to these deeper weak layers, resulting in large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 50cm of new snow in the past 24hrs, with storm snow totals now as much as 80cm at Treeline now overlies the previously formed hard wind slab in most areas. At lower elevations the snowpack has doubled in just 2 days. Minimal wind effect at Treeline so far, but expect more in the Alpine (unconfirmed due to very poor visibility). Very touchy shears within the storm snow down 10 to 30cm, which were easily triggered remotely, from as far away as 40 metres, by the forecasting team today.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">45-80 cm of recent storm snow is sitting on a knife hard crust. These storm slabs have been very reactive to human triggers. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded with the average snowpack depth at treeline 250-300 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 30 cm of new low density snow from Sunday night has brought our new snow totals from the past few days to around 40-80 cm. Our new snow has buried a range of different surface conditions that developed last week. These previous surfaces include wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind-exposed terrain, sun crust on steep solar aspects, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar found growing on sheltered open slopes in the days before the storm. The bond of the new snow to these underlying surfaces will take some time to form, and touchy conditions should be expected both at this interface as well as at mid-storm interfaces within the new snow. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 50-100 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of new, low density snow fell again on Sunday night, bringing new snow totals from the past few days to around 40-90 cm. There has been a distinct southern focus throughout the storm, with the northernmost part of the region only receiving about 25 cm of new snow. Our new snow lies over older surfaces that include wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain, sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. The new snow's bond to these surfaces will likely be weak and touchy conditions should be expected at this interface as well as at mid-storm interfaces within the new snow. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 40-100 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet weakness buried mid-December found 70-130 cm is generally considered dormant. This and deeper persistent weaknesses remain a concern isolated to shallow snowpack areas where they lie closer to the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Around 70cm of storm snow has accumulated over the weekend. Strong shifting winds have redistributed the new snow in exposed terrain forming very touchy wind slabs. The new snow overlies a highly variable old surface which may include wind affected surfaces, a layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas, facets, and/or a thin sun crust. Recent reports suggest a poor bond between the new snow and the old surface. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable but isolated basal weaknesses may exist in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 90 cm of new low density storm snow has accumulated over the weekend. Strong shifting winds have redistributed the new snow in exposed terrain forming very touchy wind slabs. The new snow overlies a highly variable old surface which may include wind affected surfaces, facets, and/or a rain crust below around 1500 m. Recent reports suggest a poor bond between the new snow and the old surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In deeper areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer which was buried 50-100 cm deep prior to the weekend storm. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is weak and faceted. For instance, in the Elk Valley north area near Crown Mountain last week the height of snow was 90 cm with foot penetration of 80 cm; or almost to ground. In these areas, the wind has formed isolated hard slabs above weak facets and created the potential for large persistent slab avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-80 cm of recent storm snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar(up to 10 mm) in sheltered locations. In sheltered ares where the recent storm snow is overlying surface hoar(weak, feathery crystals), you may see increased reactivity on this layer as the storm snow begins to settle into a more cohesive slab. Moderate to strong overnight winds from a variety of directions are redistributing the storm snow into more cohesive slabs which will likely be reactive to human triggers. The mid-January interface (facets) is buried approximately 100-180 cm down. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled (strong). However, there remain a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but will require monitoring with additional loading.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">35-50 cm(lower amounts in the north) of recent storm snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. The mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 50-80 cm and the mid-December facets down 90-120 cm remain a concern especially in shallower snowpack areas like the Duffey, Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring especially through periods of more load. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled(stronger), than it is to the north. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affected surfaces are being reported in exposed terrain including scoured surfaces, sastrugi, and hard wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the surface snow is reported to be faceting and surface hoar is developing. Below around 1100 m elevation, a rain crust can be found near the surface of the snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-January surface hoar/facet layer is now typically down 70-100 cm. Recent observations suggest the layer has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist, especially where buried surface hoar is still intact. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern, especially in shallow snowpack areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affected surfaces are being reported in exposed terrain including scoured surfaces, sastrugi, and hard wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the surface snow is reported to be faceting and surface hoar is developing. Below around 1400 m elevation, a rain crust can be found near the surface of the snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, several buried surface hoar layers can be found between 30-70 cm deep. Reports from last week indicate these layers had been yielding moderate to hard results in snowpack tests. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. The new load from last week reached a critical level and woke up a deep persistent slab problem in many parts of the region, especially shallower (100-140cm) snowpack areas. Currently the probability of triggering an avalanche on those deeper layers has lowered but the consequence remains high. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 25-40cm of new, low-density snow from the past few days has buried a range of surface conditions that developed last week. These previous surfaces include older wind slabs on a wide range of aspects, sun crust on steep solar aspects, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar found on sheltered open slopes in the days before the storm. The new snow is beginning to form a bond to these surfaces, but touchy conditions at this interface as well as at mid-storm interfaces should still be expected over the short term. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 50-80 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness was buried mid-December and can now be found down 110-130 cm. It has become inactive in the south of the region, but may remain reactive in the northern part of the region near Blue River and Valemount. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/forecasts/cariboos" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">Read the Cariboo forecast for more information.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">45-85cm of recent storm snow has created touchy storm slabs at all elevations and aspects. Snowfall amounts have been highest around Kootenay Pass and taper dramatically as you go north. These slabs have been reported as being very reactive to human triggers and are sitting on a variety of surfaces; including scoured surfaces in wind exposed terrain, surface hoar(size 2-3 mm) in sheltered locations, and sun crust on steep solar aspects. 50-100 cm of snow now overlies the weak layer of surface hoar(feathery crystals) and facets(sugar snow) that was buried in mid-January. There has only been one recent report of an avalanche on this interface, but this may change with the increasing load. Areas with a shallower snowpack (less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. It is possible for storm slab avalanches to step-down to these deeper weak layers, resulting in large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15 to 20cm of new snow in the past 24hrs brings storm snow totals to near 100cm at Treeline over the past 3 days. This storm snow sits on a previously formed dense wind slab in many parts of the forecast area. Widespread wind effect in Alpine and open areas at Treeline. Suspect significant wind slab development. Forecasters have a concern that the new load will cause failures in the deeply buried weak layers of Dec 18 and Nov 12, causing deep and destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">50-80 cm of recent storm snow is sitting on a knife hard crust. The bond to this crust is slowly gaining strength according to recent reports. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded with the average snowpack depth at treeline 250-300 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 10 cm of new, low density snow on Monday night (coupled with 30 cm from Sunday night) has brought our new snow totals from the past few days to a wide-ranging 40-90 cm. The deepest accumulations appear to be focused near Goat Range Provincial Park. Our new snow has buried a range of different surface conditions that developed last week. These previous surfaces include wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind-exposed terrain, sun crust on steep solar aspects, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar found growing on sheltered open slopes in the days before the storm. The bond of the new snow to these underlying surfaces will take some time to form, and touchy conditions should be expected both at this interface as well as at mid-storm interfaces within the new snow over the short term. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 50-120 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 15 cm of new, low density snow fell again Monday night, bringing new snow totals from the past few days to around 50-100 cm. There has been a distinct southern focus throughout the storm, with the northernmost tip of the region only receiving about 25 cm of new snow. Our new snow lies over older surfaces that include wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind exposed terrain, sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. The new snow's bond to these surfaces will likely be weak and touchy conditions should be expected at this interface as well as at mid-storm interfaces within the new snow over the short term. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 40-120 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet weakness buried mid-December found 70-140 cm is generally considered dormant. This and deeper persistent weaknesses remain concerns isolated to shallow snowpack areas where they lie closer to the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">60-80cm of storm snow has accumulated over the weekend. Strong shifting winds have redistributed the new snow in exposed terrain forming touchy wind slabs. The new snow overlies a highly variable old surface which may include wind affected surfaces, a layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas, facets, and/or a thin sun crust. Recent reports suggest a poor bond between the new snow and the old surface. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable but isolated basal weaknesses may exist in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 90 cm of new low density storm snow has accumulated over the weekend. Strong shifting winds have redistributed the new snow in exposed terrain forming very touchy wind slabs. The new snow overlies a highly variable old surface which may include wind affected surfaces, facets, and/or a rain crust below around 1500 m. Recent reports suggest a poor bond between the new snow and the old surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In deeper areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer which was buried 50-100 cm deep prior to the weekend storm. In shallow snowpack areas and at lower elevations, the snowpack is weak, faceted, and has no structure. Prior to the storm, it was possible to step onto the snow surface in these areas and sink right to the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-80 cm of recent storm snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar(up to 10 mm) in sheltered locations. In sheltered ares where the recent storm snow is overlying surface hoar(weak, feathery crystals), you may see increased reactivity on this layer as the storm snow begins to settle into a more cohesive slab. The mid-January interface (facets) is buried approximately 100-180 cm down. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled (strong). However, there remain a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but will require monitoring with additional loading.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">35-50 cm(lower amounts in the north) of recent storm snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. The mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 50-80 cm and the mid-December facets down 90-120 cm remain a concern especially in shallower snowpack areas like the Duffey, Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring especially through periods of more load. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled(stronger), than it is to the north. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affected surfaces are being reported in exposed terrain including scoured surfaces, sastrugi, and hard wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the surface snow is reported to be faceting and surface hoar is developing. Below around 1100 m elevation, a rain crust can be found near the surface of the snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-January surface hoar/facet layer is now typically down 70-100 cm. Recent observations suggest the layer has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist, especially where buried surface hoar is still intact. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern, especially in shallow snowpack areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affected surfaces are being reported in exposed terrain including scoured surfaces, sastrugi, and hard wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the surface snow is reported to be faceting and surface hoar is developing. Below around 1400 m elevation, a rain crust can be found near the surface of the snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, several buried surface hoar layers can be found between 30-70 cm deep. Recent reports suggest these layers have generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist, especially where buried surface hoar is still intact. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. This basal weakness woke up during the last storm and produced numerous large avalanches which released on the ground. The layer is dormant for the time being but is expected to wake up with warming or heavy loading, or a smaller avalanche could step down.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">While the northern tip of the region has received very little from the recent stormy weather, most of the region saw around 25-40cm of new, low-density snow burying a range of surface conditions that developed last week. These previous surfaces include older wind slabs on a wide range of aspects, sun crust on steep solar aspects, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar found on sheltered open slopes in the days before the storm. The new snow is beginning to form a bond to these surfaces, but touchy conditions at this interface as well as at mid-storm interfaces should still be expected over the short term. Recent reports identify buried sun crust as a particular problem. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 50-80 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December can now be found down roughly 110-130 cm. While activity at this layer has declined, professionals in the north of the region are still treating it with caution.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of new snow over the past few days has given a thin cover to wind slabs that currently exist on a variety of aspects in wind-exposed terrain. While these wind slabs are suspected to be growing stubborn, our supply of new snow can be expected to have fed into the wind slab problem in wind exposed areas. In more sheltered areas, the new snow has buried faceted surface snow as well as surface hoar existing on sheltered open slopes. The persistent weakness buried mid-January is now down 50-100 cm</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It</span><span class="s_3FE45715"> has generally stabilized but may remain reactive in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. Another surface hoar/facet weakness buried mid-December can now be found down about 70 cm in shallow snowpack areas. While reactivity at this layer has declined, professionals in the region are still treating it with a great deal of caution.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">It should be noted that areas in the far south of the region saw as much as 25 cm of new snow over the course of the recent storm, coupled with strong winds. In these areas, the wind slab problem should be treated with considerably more caution.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">45-85cm of recent storm snow has created touchy storm slabs at all elevations and aspects. Snowfall amounts have been highest around Kootenay Pass and taper dramatically as you go north. These slabs have been reported as being very reactive to human triggers and are sitting on a variety of surfaces; including scoured surfaces in wind exposed terrain, surface hoar(size 2-3 mm) in sheltered locations, and sun crust on steep solar aspects. 50-100 cm of snow now overlies the weak layer of surface hoar(feathery crystals) and facets(sugar snow) that was buried in mid-January. There has only been one recent report of an avalanche on this interface, but this may change with the increasing load. Areas with a shallower snowpack (less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. It is possible for storm slab avalanches to step-down to these deeper weak layers, resulting in large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Storm snow totals in excess of 100cm have fallen at Treeline elevations in the previous 3 days. This snow has been drastically redistributed by strong winds and wind slabs now dominate Alpine and Treeline areas. In many areas this storm snow / wind slab condition sits on a previously formed very dense wind slab, which may provide an ideal sliding layer. Forecasters have a concern that the recent new load will cause failures in the deeply buried weak layers of Dec 18 and Nov 12, causing deep and destructive avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">50-80 cm of recent storm snow is sitting on a knife hard crust. The bond to this crust is slowly gaining strength according to recent reports. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded with the average snowpack depth at treeline 250-300 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Fresh snow totals from the past few days to a wide-ranging 40-90 cm, with the highest amounts near the crest of the Selkirks in the western part of the region. This recent storm snow has settled into a slab, especially where it has been wind-loaded or warmed by the sun, which is bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. Weaknesses are also lingering within the recent storm snow, with several easy to moderate shears being reported. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 50-120 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Fresh snow totals from the past few days are around 50-100 cm in the southern part of the region, with the northernmost tip of the region only receiving about 25 cm of new snow. This recent storm snow has settled into a slab, especially where it has been wind-loaded, which is bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. Weaknesses are also lingering within the recent storm snow, with 'upside-down' conditions and several easy to moderate shears being reported. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 60-120 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet weakness buried mid-December found 70-140 cm is generally considered dormant. This and deeper persistent weaknesses remain concerns isolated to shallow snowpack areas where they lie closer to the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another 20-30cm of snow on Wednesday night through Thursday will add an additional load to the 60-80cm of storm snow accumulated last weekend. Strong shifting winds redistributed the previous storm's snow in exposed terrain forming touchy wind slabs. These wind slabs are now obscured by the latest round of snowfall. The combined accumulation of multiple storms' snow overlies a highly variable old surface which included wind affected surfaces, a layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas, facets, and/or a thin sun crust. Recent reports suggest a poor bond between the new snow and the old surface. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable but isolated basal weaknesses may exist in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another 20-30cm of new snow is expected through the day Thursday to add to 90 cm of new low density storm snow that accumulated last weekend. Strong shifting winds have redistributed the previous storm's snow in exposed terrain forming touchy wind slabs. These wind slabs are now obscured by the latest blanket of snow. All this overlies a highly variable old surface which may include wind affected surfaces, facets, and/or a rain crust below around 1500 m. Recent reports suggest a poor bond between the storms' snow and the old surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In deeper areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer which was buried 50-100 cm deep prior to the weekend storm. In shallow snowpack areas and at lower elevations, the snowpack is weak, faceted, and has no structure. Prior to the storm, it was possible to step onto the snow surface in these areas and sink right to the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-80 cm of recent storm snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar(up to 10 mm) in sheltered locations. In sheltered ares where the recent storm snow is overlying surface hoar(weak, feathery crystals), you may see increased reactivity on this layer as the storm snow begins to settle into a more cohesive slab. The mid-January interface (facets) is buried approximately 100-180 cm down. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled (strong). However, there remain a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but will require monitoring with additional loading.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">35-50 cm(lower amounts in the north) of recent storm snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. The mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 50-80 cm and the mid-December facets down 90-120 cm remain a concern especially in shallower snowpack areas like the Duffey, Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring especially through periods of more load. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled(stronger), than it is to the north. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affected surfaces are being reported in exposed terrain including scoured surfaces, sastrugi, and hard wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the surface snow is reported to be faceting and surface hoar is developing. Below around 1100 m elevation, a rain crust can be found near the surface of the snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-January surface hoar/facet layer is now typically down 70-100 cm. Recent observations suggest the layer has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist, especially where buried surface hoar is still intact. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern, especially in shallow snowpack areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affected surfaces are being reported in exposed terrain including scoured surfaces, sastrugi, and hard wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the surface snow is reported to be faceting and surface hoar is developing. Below around 1400 m elevation, a rain crust can be found near the surface of the snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, several buried surface hoar layers can be found between 30-70 cm deep. Recent reports suggest these layers have generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist, especially where buried surface hoar is still intact. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. This basal weakness woke up during the last storm and produced numerous large avalanches which released on the ground. The layer is dormant for the time being but is expected to wake up with warming, heavy loading, or by the weight of a smaller avalanche stepping down.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Most of the region received around 25-40cm of new, low-density snow over the past few days, while the northern tip of the region got much less. This recent storm snow has settled into a slab, especially where it has been wind-loaded or warmed by the sun, which is bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. Recent reports identify buried sun crust as a particular problem. Weaknesses are also lingering within the recent storm snow, with several easy to moderate shears being reported in areas with higher amounts of recent storm snow. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 50-80 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December can now be found down roughly 110-130 cm. While activity at this layer has declined, professionals in the north of the region are still treating it with caution.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of new snow over the past few days has lightly buried old wind slabs that are lurking on a variety of aspects in wind-exposed terrain. While these wind slabs are suspected to be growing stubborn, the fresh snow is likely forming new touchy slabs in wind exposed areas. In more sheltered areas, the new snow has buried faceted surface snow as well as surface hoar existing on sheltered open slopes. The persistent weakness buried mid-January is now down 50-100 cm</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It</span><span class="s_3FE45715"> has generally stabilized but may remain reactive in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. Another surface hoar/facet weakness buried mid-December can now be found down about 70 cm in shallow snowpack areas. While reactivity at this layer has declined, professionals in the region are still treating it with a great deal of caution.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">It should be noted that areas in the far south of the region saw as much as 25 cm of new snow over the course of the recent storm, coupled with strong winds. In these areas, the wind slab problem should be treated with considerably more caution.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">45-85cm of recent storm snow has created touchy storm slabs at all elevations and aspects. Snowfall amounts have been highest around Kootenay Pass and taper dramatically as you go north. These slabs have been reported as being very reactive to human triggers and are sitting on a variety of surfaces; including scoured surfaces in wind exposed terrain, surface hoar(size 2-3 mm) in sheltered locations, and sun crust on steep solar aspects. 50-100 cm of snow now overlies the weak layer of surface hoar(feathery crystals) and facets(sugar snow) that was buried in mid-January. There has only been one recent report of an avalanche on this interface, but this may change with the increasing load. Areas with a shallower snowpack (less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. It is possible for storm slab avalanches to step-down to these deeper weak layers, resulting in large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent storm snow has settled to between 50 and 80cm, which overlies a hard slab in Alpine areas and some Treeline features. This snow has been redistributed by strong winds, and wind slabs are now dominant on all aspects at Treeline and above. These slabs seem most sensitive to human-triggering in the Treeline elevation band. Snowpack stability tests today indicate easy to moderate shears down 35 and 55cm. Concern remains for the potential of an avalanche initiated in the upper snowpack to step down to the weak basal layers causing a very large and destructive avalanche. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">50-80 cm of recent storm snow is sitting on a knife hard crust. The bond to this crust is slowly gaining strength according to recent reports. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded with the average snowpack depth at treeline 250-300 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15-25cm of fresh snow, accompanied by moderate winds, adds to the 40-90 cm from the past few days, with the highest amounts near the crest of the Selkirks in the western part of the region. This recent storm snow has settled into a slab, especially where it has been wind-loaded or warmed by the sun, which is bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. Weaknesses are also lingering within the recent storm snow, with several easy to moderate shears being reported. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 50-120 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-25cm of fresh snow, accompanied by moderate winds, adds to the 50-100 cm from the past few days, with the heaviest amounts in the southern part of the region. This recent storm snow is forming deep touchy slabs, especially where it has been wind-loaded, which are bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. Weaknesses are also lingering within the recent storm snow, with 'upside-down' conditions and several easy to moderate shears being reported. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 60-120 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet weakness buried mid-December found 70-140 cm is generally considered dormant. This and deeper persistent weaknesses remain concerns isolated to shallow snowpack areas where they lie closer to the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 40cm of moist new snow fell on Thursday to add an additional load to the 60-80cm of storm snow accumulated last weekend. Strong shifting winds redistributed the previous storm's snow in exposed terrain forming touchy wind slabs. These wind slabs are now obscured by the latest round of snowfall. The combined accumulation of multiple storms' snow overlies a highly variable old surface which included wind affected surfaces, a layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas, facets, and/or a thin sun crust. Recent reports suggest a poor bond between the new snow and the old surface. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable but isolated basal weaknesses may exist in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Thursday saw 15-30cm of moist new snow fall on top of the 90cm of low density storm snow that accumulated last weekend. Strong shifting winds have redistributed the previous storm's snow in exposed terrain forming touchy wind slabs. These wind slabs are now obscured by the latest blanket of snow. All this overlies a highly variable old surface which may include wind affected surfaces, facets, and/or a rain crust below around 1500 m. Recent reports suggest a poor bond between the storms' snow and the old surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In deeper areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer which was buried 50-100 cm deep prior to the weekend storm. In shallow snowpack areas and at lower elevations, the snowpack is weak, faceted, and has no structure. Prior to the storm, it was possible to step onto the snow surface in these areas and sink right to the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-80 cm of recent storm snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar(up to 10 mm) in sheltered locations. In sheltered ares where the recent storm snow is overlying surface hoar(weak, feathery crystals), you may see increased reactivity on this layer as the storm snow begins to settle into a more cohesive slab. The mid-January interface (facets) is buried approximately 100-180 cm down. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled (strong). However, there remain a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but will require monitoring with additional loading.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An additional 40+ cm of snow on Thursday added to the 35-50 cm(lower amounts in the north) of recent storm snow that is sitting on a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. The mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 90-120 cm and the mid-December facets down 130-160 cm remain a concern especially in shallower snowpack areas like the Duffey, Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring, especially through periods of rapid loading. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled(stronger), than it is to the north. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affected surfaces are being reported in exposed terrain including scoured surfaces, sastrugi, and hard wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the surface snow is reported to be faceting and surface hoar is developing. Below around 1100 m elevation, a rain crust can be found near the surface of the snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-January surface hoar/facet layer is now typically down 70-100 cm. Recent observations suggest the layer has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist, especially where buried surface hoar is still intact. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern, especially in shallow snowpack areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affected surfaces are being reported in exposed terrain including scoured surfaces, sastrugi, and hard wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the surface snow is reported to be faceting and surface hoar is developing. Below around 1400 m elevation, a rain crust can be found near the surface of the snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, several buried surface hoar layers can be found between 30-70 cm deep. Recent reports suggest these layers have generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist, especially where buried surface hoar is still intact. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. This basal weakness woke up during the last storm and produced numerous large avalanches which released on the ground. The layer is dormant for the time being but is expected to wake up with warming, heavy loading, or by the weight of a smaller avalanche stepping down.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20cm of fresh snow, accompanied by moderate winds, adds to the 25-40 cm from the past few days, with the highest amounts in the southern part of the region. This recent storm snow has settled into a slab, especially where it has been wind-loaded or warmed by the sun, which is bonding poorly to the previous snow surface that includes sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. Recent reports identify buried sun crust as a particular problem. Weaknesses are also lingering within the recent storm snow, with several easy to moderate shears being reported in areas with higher amounts of recent storm snow. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 50-80 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December can now be found down roughly 110-130 cm. While activity at this layer has declined, professionals in the north of the region are still treating it with caution.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another 10 cm adds to 10 cm of recent snow that buried old wind slabs lurking on a variety of aspects in wind-exposed terrain. While these old wind slabs are suspected to be growing stubborn, the fresh snow is likely forming new touchy slabs in wind exposed areas. In more sheltered areas, the new snow has buried faceted surface snow as well as surface hoar existing on sheltered open slopes. The persistent weakness buried mid-January is now down 50-100 cm</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It</span><span class="s_3FE45715"> has generally stabilized but may remain reactive in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. Another surface hoar/facet weakness buried mid-December can now be found down about 70 cm in shallow snowpack areas. While reactivity at this layer has declined, professionals in the region are still treating it with a great deal of caution.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">It should be noted that areas in the far south of the region saw as much as 25 cm of new snow over the course of the recent storm, coupled with strong winds. In these areas, the wind slab problem should be treated with considerably more caution.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another 20-30 cm of snow fell Thursday on top of the 45-85cm of recent storm snow which has created touchy storm slabs at all elevations and aspects. Snowfall amounts have been highest around Kootenay Pass. These slabs have been reported as being very reactive to human triggers and are sitting on a variety of surfaces; including scoured surfaces in wind exposed terrain, surface hoar(size 2-3 mm) in sheltered locations, and sun crust on steep solar aspects. 50-100 cm of snow now overlies the weak layer of surface hoar(feathery crystals) and facets(sugar snow) that was buried in mid-January. Areas with a shallower snowpack (less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. It is possible for storm slab avalanches to step-down to these deeper weak layers, resulting in large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snow began falling later in the afternoon on Thursday as well as westerly winds and temperatures began to increase.  Forecasters were running into storm slabs up to 30cm thick in most open areas at all elevation bands.  The more deeply buried weak facetted base is also widespread in the region and any avalanche that initiates in the upper snowpack is likely to step down to this weak base and involve the entire winters snowpack.  Winds winds and snow expected to continue over the next 24hrs, we only expect these storm slabs to become thicker and more reactive. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">50-80 cm of recent storm is sitting on a knife hard crust.  This snow was saturated by rain on Thursday at treeline and below which will form a new crust when freezing levels drop Thursday night and the rain turns back into snow. 15-20 cm of snow is forecast for Friday and may form fresh storm slabs sitting on a new crust. In the alpine, where all of the precipitation has fallen as snow, the storm slabs will remain touchy and likely to human trigger on Friday. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded with the average snowpack depth at treeline 250-300 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Continued snowfall has totalled between approximately 70 cm to over a metre of settled storm snow in the past week, with warm temperatures and wind forming very touchy slabs. Weaknesses exist within this recent storm snow with reports of 'upside-down' conditions and easy shears within the top 60 cm. All this new snow is also bonding poorly to the previous snow surface from early February that includes sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down over a metre in most areas and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable in deeper snowpack areas, but faceted and weak in shallower areas; however, lacking any reactive layers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Continued snowfall has totalled between approximately 60 cm to well over a metre in the past week, with warm temperatures and wind forming very touchy slabs. Weaknesses exist within this recent storm snow with reports of easy shears in the top 50 cm. All this new snow is also bonding poorly to the previous snow surface from early February that includes sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down 80-150 cm and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, sun crust on south aspects, and/or faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">This and deeper persistent weaknesses remain concerns isolated to shallow snowpack areas where they lie closer to the surface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 35mm of precipitation fell over Thursday night, with periods of rain leading to diminished new snow amounts of around 15-25 cm at treeline elevations. This precipitation fell over the roughly 40cm of moist new snow from Thursday, adding additional load to the 60-80cm of storm snow that accumulated in the region last weekend. Strong shifting winds redistributed the previous storm's snow in exposed terrain forming touchy wind slabs. These wind slabs are now obscured by the latest round of snowfall. The combined accumulation of multiple storms' snow now overlies a highly variable old surface which included wind affected surfaces, a layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas, facets, and/or a thin sun crust. Recent reports suggest a poor bond between the new snow and the old surface. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable but isolated basal weaknesses may exist in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">15-30cm of moist new snow fell over the region on Thursday, with some periods of rain observed at lower elevations. This precipitation has accumulated above the 90cm of low density storm snow that we received last weekend. Strong shifting winds have redistributed the previous storm's snow in exposed terrain forming touchy wind slabs. These wind slabs are now obscured by the latest blanket of snow. All of this overlies a highly variable old surface which may include wind affected surfaces, facets, and/or a rain crust below around 1500 m. Recent reports suggest a poor bond between the storms' snow and the old surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In deeper areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer which was buried 50-100 cm deep prior to the weekend storm. In shallow snowpack areas and at lower elevations, the snowpack is weak, faceted, and has no structure. Prior to the storm, it was possible to step onto the snow surface in these areas and sink right to the ground.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">40-80 cm of recent storm snow fell with moderate to strong southerly winds and formed touchy wind slabs on northerly aspects. Inverted temperatures (warmer at higher elevations) made the slab problem worse. The new snow has buried a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind affected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar (up to 10 mm) in sheltered locations. In sheltered ares where the recent storm snow is overlying surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals), you may see increased reactivity on this layer as the storm snow begins to settle into a more cohesive slab. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled (strong). However, there remain a number of facet and crust layers that are currently dormant but will require monitoring with additional loading (and warming early next week), especially in shallower, rocky areas. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">An additional 40+ cm of snow on Thursday added to the 35-50 cm (lower amounts in the north) of recent storm snow. Temperatures rose on Thursday afternoon, increasing the likelihood slab avalanches with the heavier snow on top of lighter, drier snow. All this storm snow is sitting on a wide variety of old snow surfaces including stiff wind slab or wind effected snow at upper elevations, sun crust on steep southerly slopes, surface hoar and surface facets in sheltered locations. The mid-January surface hoar and facet interface is now buried 90-120 cm and the mid-December facets down 130-160 cm still remain a concern especially in shallower snowpack areas in the Duffey, Hurley and/ or South Chilcotins. These deeper weaknesses warrant monitoring, especially through periods of rapid loading. In southern areas (Coquihalla), the lower snowpack is reportedly well settled (stronger), than it is to the north.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">New snow over Friday night will begin to cover the widespread wind affected surfaces that have recently been reported in exposed terrain, including scoured surfaces, sastrugi, and hard wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the surface snow now being buried was recently reported faceting with surface hoar developing in open areas. Below around 1100 m elevation, a rain crust can be found near the surface of the snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, the mid-January surface hoar/facet layer is now typically down 70-100 cm. Recent observations suggest the layer has generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist, especially where buried surface hoar is still intact. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern, especially in shallow snowpack areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Widespread wind affected surfaces are being reported in exposed terrain including scoured surfaces, sastrugi, and hard wind slabs. In areas sheltered from the wind, the surface snow is reported to be faceting and surface hoar is developing. Below around 1400 m elevation, a rain crust can be found near the surface of the snowpack. Deeper in the snowpack, several buried surface hoar layers can be found between 30-70 cm deep. Recent reports suggest these layers have generally stabilized but isolated weaknesses may still exist, especially where buried surface hoar is still intact. A generally stiff mid pack sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. This basal weakness woke up during the last storm and produced numerous large avalanches which released on the ground. The layer is dormant for the time being but is expected to wake up with warming, heavy loading, or by the weight of a smaller avalanche stepping down.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An additional 30-50 cm of fresh snow on Friday, brings total snowfall in the past week to 60-100 cm, with warm temperatures and wind forming very touchy slabs. Weaknesses exist within this recent storm snow with reports of 'upside-down' conditions and easy shears in the top 50 cm. All this new snow is also bonding poorly to the previous snow surface from early February that includes sun crust on steep sun-exposed slopes, faceted snow, as well as surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. A persistent weakness buried mid January is now down over a metre in most areas and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It has generally stabilized but may be sensitive to triggering in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. </span><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another surface hoar/facet persistent weakness that was buried mid-December can now be found down roughly 150 cm. While activity at this layer has declined, professionals in the north of the region are still treating it with caution.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">With up to 50 cm of fresh snow on Friday, total snowfall over the past week is around 70 cm with warm temperatures and wind forming very touchy slabs. Weaknesses likely exist within this recent storm, which is also bonding poorly to the previous snow surface from early February that includes old hard wind slabs and crusts as well as faceted snow and surface hoar on sheltered open slopes. The persistent weakness buried mid-January is now down around a metre</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> and consists of buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, and/or widespread faceted old snow. It</span><span class="s_3FE45715"> has generally stabilized but may remain reactive in isolated areas where buried surface hoar is preserved. Another surface hoar/facet weakness buried mid-December can now be found over a metre in shallow snowpack areas. While reactivity at this layer has declined, professionals in the region are still treating it with a great deal of caution.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another 20-30 cm of wet snow fell up to 1800m on Thursday and sits on top of the 45-85cm of recent storm snow: This has created touchy storm slabs at all elevations and aspects. Snowfall amounts have been highest around Kootenay Pass. These slabs have been reported as very reactive to human triggers and are sitting on a variety of surfaces; including scoured surfaces in wind exposed terrain, surface hoar (size 2-3 mm) in sheltered locations, and sun crust on steep solar aspects.&nbsp; Snowpack tests near the Valhallas have given moderate, propagation-likely results down 50-70cms on the Feb 3rd interface. Areas with a shallower snowpack (less than 150 cm) have a generally weak snowpack structure with sugary facets near the ground. This includes shallow alpine slopes and most of the Rossland range. It is possible for storm slab avalanches to step-down to these deeper weak layers, resulting in large, destructive avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Its hard to paint a widespread picture of the snowpack right now. At treeline, there is 50-60cm of settled storm snow. Generally this new snow is still considered soft (4f), however in more exposed areas it is noticeably denser(1f). This change is from either wind transport, wind pressing or settlement. The real story is what its sitting on. At treeline and below, it is sitting on the facets from earlier this year. During our field trip today (Superslope area) there was widespread whumphing and cracking. In more open, wind exposed terrain, the new snow is sitting on a hard windslab that was buried on Feb 4th. In these areas the snowpack feels better under foot, but under the hardslab is a well developed facet layer that will create large avalanches if it fails. The alpine is currently being hammered by the wind and we are expecting start zones to be filling up with wind blown snow. The forecasting team's gut feeling today is that any open terrain greater than 20 degrees should be avoided. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_384D933F"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We've had 15-20cm of wet heavy snow at treeline since Thursday afternoon, sitting on 20-30 cm drier snow. This makes 50-70 cm of cumulative storm snow which is bonding well to a knife hard crust buried Feb 3rd. In the alpine, where all of the precipitation has fallen as snow, the storm slabs will remain touchy and likely to human trigger on Saturday. The mid and lower snowpack are settled and well bonded with the average snowpack depth at treeline 250-300 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>