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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40 cm of new snow has accumulated on surface hoar in sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects.  The snow has formed a storm slab that has produced numerous avalanches (see the Avalanche Summary).  The snow also fell with moderate to strong southwesterly winds in the alpine, which produced wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations.  Below treeline, this new snow is mainly a concern in openings (e.g. cut blocks, gullies, cut banks).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The additional snow has created a dangerous slab above numerous buried weak layers. 40-80 cm of snow overlies layers composed of weak and feathery surface hoar. The layers are found most often around and below treeline. This layer has the potential to create easily-triggerable destructive slab avalanches because the layers are buried at a depth prime to human triggering.  See the Avalanche Summary for recent avalanches on this layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (90 to 150 cm), a November crust is producing variable test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result.  This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered where the snowpack is thin.</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 is forming a storm slab and sitting on surface hoar in sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects.  The snow fell with moderate to strong southwesterly winds in the alpine, which produced wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations.  Below treeline, this new snow is mainly a concern in openings (e.g. cut blocks, gullies, cut banks).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A warming trend and new snow is likely creating a dangerous slab above buried weak layers.  Dry snow overlies layers of weak and feathery surface hoar, with the deeper layer (December 15) buried 40 to 80 cm.  This layer is found most often around and below treeline but has been reported as high as 2450 m and could exist higher.  As the overlying dry snow becomes more cohesive and forms a slab, this layer has the potential to create easily-triggerable destructive slab avalanches.  This has occurred in neighbouring forecasting regions with a similar snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (70 to 110 cm), a November crust is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result.  This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered where the snowpack is thin.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow is building storm slabs. Old and new wind slabs and cornices can be found at ridge top. If intense snowfall rates occur, loose snow avalanches are likely to run fast and far. A very touchy weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found down about 40-90 cm. It is most prevalent at and below treeline, and seems particularly volatile between about 1600-1800 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, an early season rain crust and sugary facets make up the picture. It is possible that a shallower avalanche could step down to these layers, creating a surprisingly large event.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is variable across the region, but the two key concerns are touchy persistent slabs and wind slabs. Wind slabs may exist lower on the slope than normal, due to recent extreme south-west winds. In some parts of the region, windward alpine slopes are scoured; and variable wind slabs are found at treeline and alpine elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A touchy weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below. Slabs are failing very easily on this layer with the weight of a person or machine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, an early season rain crust and sugary facets make up the picture. Overall snowpack depths are variable across the region. It's generally shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15 to 35 cm of new snow sits on a crust that formed Saturday.&nbsp; About 20 cm of moist snow can be found below the crust. The new snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southeast through southwest winds on Sunday. Up to 100 cm below the surface there is a widespread melt-freeze crust that was buried on December 15th. This layer has not produced much in the way of avalanche activity and is likely trending towards dormancy. Beneath the mid-December crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </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">10 to 20 cm of recent storm snow now rests on the the January 6th crust. This crust formed after temperatures cooled on Saturday, locking up the previously moist surface snow. On Sunday moderate southwest winds likely formed wind stiffened soft slabs in lee features at and above treeline. Two successive storms at the end of December produced 50 to 80 cm of snow, which has long since settled and bonded to the underlying surface. A widespread melt-freeze crust formed in mid-December may still be an issue in the northern portion of the region where it's down 50 to 100 cm below the surface, but is likely trending towards dormancy. Around the Coquihalla this interface is now thought to be part of a well bonded mid-pack. The lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.</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 snowpack is variable across the region. Wind slabs and storm slabs may be found on some slopes in the alpine and at treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The upper snowpack consists of several layers of interest, including a breakable temperature /rain crust, surface hoar and facets. A hard crust from mid-December sits deeper in the snowpack, about 50 cm down.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-December crust the snowpack is reported to be generally strong with the possible exception of areas around Stewart and northern parts of the region where the late-October, basal crust can be found near the base of the snowpack. Weak sugary faceted snow may exist around this deeply buried crust and could be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Accumulating snow overlies various surfaces, including a hard freezing rain crust (which was reported into the alpine and may be widespread), old sun crusts and wind slabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found roughly 20 cm below the surface. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally well settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40 cm of new snow has accumulated on surface hoar in sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects. The snow is forming a storm slab that has produced numerous avalanches (see Avalanche Summary). The snow fell with strong southwesterly winds in the alpine, which produced wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations. Below treeline, this new snow is mainly a concern in openings (cut blocks, gullies, cut banks).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The additional snow has created a dangerous slab above numerous buried weak layers. 40-80 cm of snow overlies layers of weak and feathery surface hoar, which is most often found at and below treeline. This layer has the potential to create easily-triggerable destructive slab avalanches because the layers are buried at a depth prime to human triggering. Snowpack tests are generally showing that this layer could form large avalanches (sudden fracture characters, high propagation potential, rutschblock 1 to 3). See the Avalanche Summary for recent activity. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (90 to 150 cm), a November crust is producing variable test results (sudden to no result). This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered where the snowpack is thin.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40 cm of new snow fell on surface hoar in sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects and may not bond well to them. The snow also fell with moderate southwesterly winds in the alpine, which likely produced small wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow could create a dangerous slab above buried weak layers. Numerous persistent weak layers exist deeper in the snowpack. Dry snow overlies three layers composed of weak and feathery surface hoar, with the deepest layer (December 15) buried 40 to 70 cm. This layer is shallower in the north of the region and deeper in the south of the region. The weak layer is found most often at treeline and below treeline. As the snow above the weak layers becomes more cohesive and forms a slab, the setup has the potential to create easily-triggerable destructive slab avalanches. Snowpack test results in this MIN post show that this layer could be reactive.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 70 to 100 cm, a rain crust from November is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result. This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered where the snowpack is thin.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10 to 25 cm of new snow now sits on a crust on steep southerly aspects and/or a newly formed layer of surface hoar that was buried January 5th. A series of storms last week produced 25 to 50 cm of low density snow. This means that a surface hoar layer buried late in December is now 40 to 50 cm deep. Dig a bit deeper, you may find yet another surface hoar layer between 60 and 110 cm below the surface. This layer was buried mid-December and is most pronounced at treeline, but is present below treeline also. The overlying slab is now deep and is gaining cohesion with time and continued warm temperatures, as evidenced by recent avalanche activity listed above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by twin rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, 70 to 110 cm below the surface. Facets may be found sandwiched between the two crusts and have been observed above the uppermost crust too. In shallow rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Moderate to strong SW winds combined with warm temperatures have added to the already widespread wind slab conditions in the Alpine and at Treeline. These slabs exist on all aspects, except in some specific windward terrain where the wind has stripped the snow down to bare rock. The Dec 15th interface (surface hoar on north aspects, sun crust on solar aspects) continue to produce results in snowpack stability tests. The November and October crusts deeper in the snowpack continue to facet and forecasters are watching these layers as a potential future problem.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As of Monday afternoon, 20 to 40 cm of rain soaked snow had fallen on the January 7th crust. Looking down into the snowpack there are a few prominent melt-freeze crusts that were buried mid-December and are now 50 to 100 cm below the surface. After heavy rain last Friday penetrated most of the snowpack, these crust layers have been reported to be bonding to the snow above and below. The rain last week has reduced the snowpack depth at 1000 m to about 140 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of new snow has accumulated on surface hoar in sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects. </span><span class="s_E6FD2046">Numerous storm slab avalanches resulted as the new snow consolidated into a slab before bonding to the underlying surface. Strong southwest winds have accelerated slab formation at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">The additional snow has also increased the reactivity of a number of buried weak layers. 50-100 cm of snow now overlies a layer of weak and feathery surface hoar, found primarily at and below treeline. Dubbed the December 15 surface hoar, this layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches. See the Avalanche Summary for recent activity. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Deeper in the snowpack (90 to 150 cm), a crust that formed back in November is producing variable test results (sudden to no result). This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable-depth snowpack areas in the alpine.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-25 cm of new snow is forming a storm slab and sitting on surface hoar in sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects. The snow fell with moderate to strong southwesterly winds in the alpine, which produced wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations. Below treeline, storm slabs are mainly a concern in openings (e.g. cut blocks, gullies, cut banks).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A warming trend and new snow is likely creating a dangerous slab above buried weak layers. About 40-80 cm of snow now overlies a layer of weak and feathery surface hoar from December 15. This layer is found most often around and below treeline but has been reported in the alpine as well. As the overlying snow continues to consolidate into a slab, this layer has the potential to create easily-triggerable, destructive slab avalanches. This has occurred in neighbouring forecasting regions with a similar snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (70 to 110 cm), a November crust is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result. This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered where the snowpack is thin.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack reached its tipping point on Tuesday as warming and precipitation combined to overload persistent weak layers in the snowpack and create a large natural avalanche cycle.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A volatile weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below. Deeper in the snowpack, an early season rain crust and sugary facets are also being stressed. Avalanches failing on these layers are large and destructive.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A volatile weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below. Slabs can fail very easily on this layer, either naturally or with the weight of a person or machine. Every extra snowflake adds stress to this layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is variable across the region, but persistent slabs are a generally widespread problem. Wind slab and storm slab distribution will be more variable. Hard wind slabs can be found in parts of the region due to recent extreme south-west winds. Windward alpine slopes may be scoured; and variable wind slabs are found at treeline and alpine elevations. New snow is likely to fail as storm slabs and/or loose avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, an early season rain crust and sugary facets make up the picture. An avalanche in motion could step down to these deeper layers, creating a surprisingly large avalanche. Overall snowpack depths are variable across the region. It's generally shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10 to 15 cm of light density snow from Monday night and Tuesday now rests on 20 to 30 cm of slightly heavier snow that fell over the weekend. This snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southeast through southwest winds on Sunday. All of this snow is above the the January 6th crust which is present to at least 2100 m, maybe higher. This crust is reportedly breakable below 2100 m. Below the crust there is about 20 cm of settled moist snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 100 cm below the surface there is a widespread melt-freeze crust that was buried on December 15th, but this layer has not produced any recent avalanche activity and is trending towards dormancy. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-December crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </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">10 to 35 cm of recent storm snow now rests on the the January 6th crust. This crust formed after temperatures cooled on Saturday, locking up the previously moist surface snow. On Sunday moderate to strong southwest winds redistributed snow and likely formed wind stiffened soft slabs in lee features at and above treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A widespread melt-freeze crust formed in mid-December is still an issue in the northern portion of the region where it's down 40 to 50 cm below the surface. Recent observations have shown that there are rounding facets underneath the crust on polar aspects (north and east) at and above treeline. Recent snowpack tests have produced easy sudden-planar results on solar aspects (south and west) at and above treeline on this interface as well. Around the Coquihalla this interface is now thought to be part of a well bonded mid-pack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.</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 snowpack is variable across the region. Wind slabs and storm slabs may be found on some slopes in the alpine and at treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The upper snowpack consists of several layers of interest, including a breakable temperature /rain crust, surface hoar and facets. A hard crust from mid-December sits deeper in the snowpack, about 50 cm down.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-December crust the snowpack is reported to be generally strong with the possible exception of areas around Stewart and northern parts of the region where the late-October, basal crust can be found near the base of the snowpack. Weak sugary faceted snow may exist around this deeply buried crust and could be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20-30 cm snow overlies various surfaces including a freezing rain crust (which was reported as being hard in the alpine and breakable below treeline), old sun crusts and wind slabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found in the upper snowpack. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally well settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of new snow has accumulated on surface hoar in sheltered slopes and over a sun crust on steep solar aspects. Numerous storm slab avalanches resulted as the new snow consolidated into a slab before bonding to the underlying surface. Strong southwest winds have accelerated slab formation at higher elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The additional snow has increased the reactivity of a number of buried weak layers. 50-100 cm of snow now overlies a layer of weak and feathery surface hoar, found primarily at and below treeline. Dubbed the December 15 surface hoar, this layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches. See the Avalanche Summary for recent activity. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (90 to 150 cm), a crust that formed back in November is producing variable test results (sudden to no result). This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable-depth snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of new snow now overlies surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. The new snow will need time to bond to these surfaces. Moderate southwesterly winds accompanied this snowfall in the alpine, which likely created small wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow consolidates, it may form a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist deeper in the snowpack. The deepest of these, the December 15 surface hoar, is now buried 50 to 80 cm deep. This layer is shallower in the north of the region and deeper in the south of the region and is found most often at treeline and below treeline. As the snow above the weak layers becomes more cohesive and forms a slab, the setup has the potential to create easily-triggerable destructive slab avalanches. Recent avalanche activity as well as snowpack test results show increasing reactivity at this layer. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 70 to 100 cm, a rain crust from November is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result. This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered where the snowpack is thin.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20 to 50 cm of new snow now sits on a crust on steep southerly aspects and/or a newly formed layer of surface hoar that was buried January 5th.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A surface hoar layer buried late in December is now 40 to 80 cm deep. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar is now down 60 to 110 cm below the surface. This layer is most pronounced at treeline, but is present below treeline also. The overlying slab is now deep and is gaining cohesion with time and continued warm temperatures, as evidenced by recent avalanche activity listed above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by twin rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, 70 to 110 cm below the surface. Facets may be found sandwiched between the two crusts and have been observed above the uppermost crust too. In shallow rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The Burstall Pass area received about 10cm during the day which made for good skiing.  There was wind in the alpine today and forecast to continue until tomorrow so be aware of lee loaded areas and the continuing growth of the slabs in the alpine.  There is about 50-60cm now that is sitting on the Dec 15 surface hoar layer and will become more of a concern if it gets more load.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the last 48 hours the North Shore Mountains have received about 85 mm of rain, and approximately 20 cm of snow with a rapidly fluctuating freezing level. 10 to 20 cm of rain soaked snow now rests on the rain crust that formed Monday January 8th. Below the January 8th crust there is 15 to 30 cm of well settled rain soaked snow, that snow sits on the January 7th melt/freeze crust. The January 8th crust may not be present in the Alpine where temperatures are thought to have stayed cooler over the last few days. Significantly more storm snow is likely present in the Alpine, but we have few observations from that elevation band. </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/map?panel=mountain-information-network-submissions/0a951d25-edb3-4721-a771-7ad0cc427ab3" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">Check out this great MIN report for an idea of current alpine conditions.</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 50 to 100 cm of moist snow are between the surface and a few prominent melt-freeze crusts that were buried mid-December, these crust layers have been reported to be bonding to the snow above and below. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 150 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent storms have brought 40-60 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Numerous storm slab avalanches resulted as the new snow formed a slab before bonding to the surface. Moderate to strong southwest winds accompanied the snowfall at higher elevations, creating wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it forms a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar that exists at the new snow interface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show a high degree of reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches. Its reactivity has been most apparent at treeline and below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 90 to 150 cm, a rain crust from November is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result. This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have brought 20-40 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Moderate to strong southwest winds accompanied the snowfall at higher elevations, creating wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it is forming a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar found at the new snow interface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show a high degree of reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 40-80 cm deep. This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches in neighbouring regions and its reactivity has been most apparent at treeline and below treeline. These weak layers are of greater concern in areas that received greater snowfall from recent storms.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 90 to 150 cm, a rain crust from November is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result. This layer may be triggerable in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack reached its tipping point on Tuesday and Wednesday as warming and precipitation combined to overload persistent weak layers in the snowpack and create a large natural avalanche cycle. More snowfall on Thursday will continue this dangerous trend.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Over 100 cm has fallen in the past few days. The snow fell relatively warm with moderate winds, which has formed storm slabs. Deeper in the snowpack, an unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Below, a rain crust that developed late-November with associated sugary facets are also being stressed. Snowpack test results show sudden fracture characters and high propagation potential for both of these buried layers, indicating that they can be triggered and could propagate into large, destructive avalanches. This has been the case, as shown in the Avalanche Summary.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Slabs can fail very easily on this layer, either naturally or with the weight of a person or machine. Forecasted new snow will continue to stress this layer and likely make it easier to trigger.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is variable across the region, but persistent slabs are generally a widespread problem. Wind slab and storm slab distribution will be more variable. Hard wind slabs can be found in parts of the region due to recent extreme southwest winds but more recently northerly winds, which have reverse-loaded some slopes. This means that wind slabs may be found on every aspect. Windward alpine slopes may be scoured; and variable wind slabs are found at treeline and alpine elevations. New snow is likely to fail as storm slabs and/or loose avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exist. An avalanche in motion could step down to these deeper layers, creating a large and destructive avalanche. Overall snowpack depths are variable across the region. It is generally shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10 to 15 cm of light density snow from Monday night and Tuesday now rests on 20 to 30 cm of slightly heavier snow that fell over the weekend. This snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southeast through southwest winds on Sunday. All of this snow is above the the January 6th crust which is present to at least 2100 m, maybe higher. This crust is reportedly breakable below 2100 m. Below the crust there is about 20 cm of settled moist snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 100 cm below the surface there is a widespread melt-freeze crust that was buried on December 15th, but this layer has not produced any recent avalanche activity and is trending towards dormancy. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-December crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </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">20 to 40 cm of recent storm snow now rests on the the January 6th crust. This crust formed after temperatures cooled on Saturday, locking up the previously moist surface snow. On Sunday moderate to strong southwest winds redistributed snow and formed wind slabs in lee features at and above treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A widespread melt-freeze crust formed in mid-December is still an issue in the northern portion of the region where it is down 40 to 50 cm below the surface. Recent observations have shown that there are rounding facets underneath the crust on polar aspects (north and east) at and above treeline. Recent snowpack tests have produced easy sudden-planar results on solar aspects (south and west) at and above treeline on this interface as well. Around the Coquihalla this interface is not problematic and is thought to be part of a well bonded mid-pack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.</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 snowpack is variable across the region. Wind slabs and storm slabs may be found on some slopes in the alpine and at treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 45 cm recent snow overlies several layers of interest in the upper snowpack. These include crusts, surface hoar and facets. A hard crust with associated facets from mid-December sits deeper in the snowpack, about 60 cm down. Any of these layers could create a persistent slab problem if new snow, wind-loading or warming change the properties of the slab above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span><span class="s_AA239A9B" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds are likely to build slabs on many different slopes. Recent snow (around 20-30 cm) overlies various surfaces including a freezing rain crust (which was reported as being hard in the alpine and breakable below treeline), old sun crusts and wind slabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found in the upper snowpack. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally well settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have brought 40-60 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Numerous storm slab avalanches resulted as the new snow formed a slab before bonding to the surface. Moderate to strong southwest winds accompanied the snowfall at higher elevations, creating wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it is forming a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar that exists at the new snow interface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show a high degree of reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches. Its reactivity has been most apparent at treeline and below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 90 to 150 cm, a rain crust from November is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fractures to no result. This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have brought 20-50 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. The deepest accumulations exist in the south of the region. Moderate southwesterly winds accompanied this snowfall in the alpine, which created wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it gradually forms a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar that exists at the new snow interface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show a high degree of reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 50 to 80 cm deep. Reactivity at this layer has been increasing and is most apparent at treeline and below treeline. Both of these layers are buried deeper and present greater danger in the south of the region. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 70 to 100 cm, a rain crust from November is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result. This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40 to 60 cm of recent snow is coalescing into a slab on top of the January 5th interface which consists of a crust/surface hoar combination on steep southerly aspects and pure surface hoar on remaining aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The late December surface hoar remains active and is now down 50 to 70 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar, facet and crust combination is now down 70 to 130 cm below the surface and remains active. This interface is most pronounced at treeline, but is present below treeline also. The overlying slab is now deep and cohesive. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by twin rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, 80 to 150 cm below the surface. Facets may be found sandwiched between the two crusts and have been observed above the uppermost crust too. In shallow rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The last 2 days have brought nearly 30cm of new snow. Luckily this new snow has come in with no wind and there is very little wind effect at any elevation. Beneath this new snow lies an interesting snowpack. Up to 2200m, there are 2 surface hoar layers: the Jan 6th(down 30cm) &amp; the Dec 15(down 70cm). We are just starting to see results on these layers as the new snow load slowly builds up. As of today, the Jan 6th layer is lacking a surface slab, which is preventing it from being a slab avalanche concern. BUT, if/when there is a slab above it, expect this layer to be a very serious avalanche problem. Meanwhile, the Dec 15th is starting to fail in stability tests (CTM12, SC down 70cm). The difficulty with both of these layers is knowing where they are NOT in the terrain. In some areas we've seen the surface hoar up to 2300m and in in others only up to 2200...and to make it worse yet, in some areas we have seen bands of surface hoar that show up at random intervals. In the alpine, there is an intermittent windslab that feels as though it could sneak up on us and be a real surprise. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent storms brought 50-70 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Numerous storm slab avalanches resulted as the new snow formed a slab before bonding to the surface. Moderate to strong southwest winds accompanied the snowfall at higher elevations, creating wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it forms a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the (January 5) surface hoar that exists at the new snow interface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show a high degree of reactivity at this layer. Below it, a</span><span class="s_3FE45715">nother surface hoar layer from late December 26 is showing increased involvement in 'step' down releases in the region. This layer is found at similar depths, but just below the January 5 interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below these layers, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 70 to 110 cm deep. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches, with many of these 'stepping down' to this layer from shallower releases. Its reactivity has been most apparent at treeline and below. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms brought a variable 10-60 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Moderate to strong southwest winds accompanied the snowfall at higher elevations, creating wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it is forming a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar found at the new snow interface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show a high degree of reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried a widely variable 40-100 cm deep. This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches in neighbouring regions and its reactivity has been most apparent at treeline and below treeline. In the Purcells, both of these weak layers are of greatest concern in areas that received greater snowfall from recent storms.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 90 to 150 cm, a rain crust from November is producing variable snowpack test results. This layer may be triggerable in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack reached its tipping point on Tuesday and Wednesday as warming and precipitation combined to overload buried persistent weak layers in the snowpack and create a large natural avalanche cycle.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Over 100 cm of snow has fallen in the past few days.  The snow fell relatively warm with moderate winds, which has formed storm slabs.  The snow also formed large cornices.  Deeper in the snowpack, an unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations.  Below, a rain crust that developed late-November with associated sugary facets are also being stressed. Snowpack test results show sudden fracture characters and high propagation potential for both of these buried layers, indicating that they can be triggered and could propagate into large, destructive avalanches. This has been the case, as shown in the Avalanche Summary.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Slabs can fail easily on this layer, either naturally or with the weight of a person or machine. Forecasted new snow Thursday night will continue to stress this layer and likely make it easier to trigger.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is variable across the region, but persistent slabs are generally a widespread problem. Wind slab and storm slab distribution will be more variable. Hard wind slabs can be found in parts of the region due to recent extreme southwest winds but more recently northerly winds, which have reverse-loaded some slopes. This means that wind slabs may be found on every aspect.  Windward alpine slopes may be scoured; and variable wind slabs are found at treeline and alpine elevations. New snow is likely to fail as storm slabs and/or loose avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exist. An avalanche in motion could step down to these deeper layers, creating a large and destructive avalanche. Overall snowpack depths are variable across the region. It is generally shallower in the east.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10 to 15 cm of light density snow from Monday night and Tuesday now rests on 20 to 30 cm of slightly heavier snow that fell over the weekend. This snow was redistributed by moderate to strong southeast through southwest winds on Sunday. All of this snow is above the the January 6th crust which is present to at least 2100 m, maybe higher. This crust is reportedly breakable below 2100 m. Below the crust there is about 20 cm of settled moist snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 100 cm below the surface there is a widespread melt-freeze crust that was buried on December 15th, but this layer has not produced any recent avalanche activity and is trending towards dormancy. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-December crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </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">20 to 40 cm of recent storm snow (with more in the Coquihalla area) now rests on the the January 6th crust. This crust formed after temperatures cooled last Saturday, locking up the previously moist surface snow. On Sunday moderate to strong southwest winds redistributed snow and formed wind slabs in lee features at and above treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A widespread melt-freeze crust formed in mid-December is still an issue in the northern portion of the region where it is down 40 to 50 cm below the surface. Recent observations have shown that there are rounding facets underneath the crust on shady aspects at and above treeline. Recent snowpack tests have produced easy sudden-planar results on solar aspects at and above treeline on this interface as well. Around the Coquihalla this interface is not problematic and is thought to be part of a well bonded mid-pack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.</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 snowpack is variable across the region. Wind slabs and storm slabs are found on some slopes in the alpine and at treeline.  Strong outflow winds have formed wind slabs on southerly and southwesterly lee features at all elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 45 cm recent snow overlies several layers of interest in the upper snowpack. These include crusts, surface hoar and facets. A hard crust with associated facets from mid-December sits deeper in the snowpack, about 60 cm down. Any of these layers could create a persistent slab problem if new snow, wind-loading or warming change the properties of the slab above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds are likely building slabs on many different slopes. Recent snow (around 20-30 cm) overlies various surfaces including a freezing rain crust (which was reported as being hard in the alpine and breakable below treeline), old sun crusts and wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found in the upper snowpack. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally well settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have brought 40-70 cm of new snow to the region. This new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Numerous storm slab avalanches resulted as the new snow formed a slab before bonding to the surface. Moderate to strong southwest winds accompanied the snowfall at higher elevations, creating wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow consolidates, it forms a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar that exists at the new snow interface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show a high degree of reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches, with many of these 'stepping down' to this layer from shallower releases. Its reactivity has been most apparent at treeline and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 90 to 150 cm, a rain crust from November is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms brought 20-50 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and the deepest accumulations exist in the south of the region. Moderate southwesterly winds accompanied this snowfall in the alpine, which created wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it gradually forms a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar that exists at the new snow interface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show a high degree of reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 50 to 80 cm deep. Reactivity at this layer has been increasing and is most apparent at treeline and below treeline. Both of these layers are buried deeper and present greater danger in the south of the region. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 70 to 100 cm, a rain crust from November is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result. This layer is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40 to 80 cm of recent snow is settling into a cohesive slab on top of the reactive January 5th interface which consists of a crust/surface hoar combination on steep southerly aspects and pure surface hoar on remaining aspects. The late December surface hoar also remains reactive and is now down 50 to 95 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Adding to the complexity of the mid to upper snowpack is the mid-December surface hoar which is now 60 to 130 cm below the surface. This spooky interface continues to produce sudden snowpack test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. The overlying slab is now deep, dense and destructive. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. In shallow, rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another 13cm overnight brings our recent storm snow up to 30-40cm over the past 2 days.  This new snow has yet to see much wind affect but it is continuing to bury two key layers.  One the Dec interface down 70cm which is facets or surface hoar (below 2300m) and the Jan 6th Surface down 30 which is surface haor below 2300m or a sun crust on steep solar aspects up to 2600m.  As the snow settles and strengthens over these layers they will become more reactive.  Whumpfing and settlements were being observed on thursday so treat that as a heads up.  Otherwise, wind slabs are still being observered in alpine areas on all aspects but as of yet they don't extend far downslope.  As the winds increase, expect all of these problems to become more reactive at treeline and in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the last few days the North Shore Mountains received about 91 mm of rain, and approximately 20 cm of snow with a rapidly fluctuating freezing level. Depending on elevation, the upper snowpack is likely now a mix of moist snow, crusts and settling storm snow; however, reports from the North Shore indicate that 15cm of moist snow sits above loose dry snow which overlies a crust. This combination has proven to be reactive in surprisingly low-angle terrain. Reactive storm slabs may exist at upper elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 100 cm below the surface you may find a few prominent melt-freeze crusts that were buried mid-December, these crust layers have been reported to be bonding well to the mid-pack and are largely considered dormant.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 150 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent storms brought 50-70 cm of new snow to the region. This storm snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Numerous storm slab avalanches resulted as the new snow formed a slab before bonding to the surface. Moderate to strong southwest winds have accelerated this slab formation at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it progressively forms a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the (January 5) surface hoar that covered the old snow surface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show high reactivity at this layer. Below it, a</span><span class="s_3FE45715">nother surface hoar layer from late December 26 is showing increased involvement in 'step' down releases in the region. This layer is found at similar depths, but just below the January 5 interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below these layers, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 70 to 110 cm deep. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches, with many of these 'stepping down' to this layer from shallower releases. Its reactivity has been most apparent at treeline and below. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms brought a variable 10-60 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Moderate to strong southwest winds accompanied the snowfall at higher elevations, creating wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it is forming a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar found at the old snow surface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show high reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried a widely variable 40-100 cm deep. This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches in neighbouring regions and its reactivity has been most apparent at treeline and below. In the Purcells, both of these layers are of greatest concern in areas that received greater snowfall from recent storms.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, down about 90 to 150 cm, a rain crust from November is showing reduced reactivity in snowpack tests. This layer is considered dormant but it may be triggerable in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack reached its tipping point on Tuesday and Wednesday as warming and precipitation combined to overload buried persistent weak layers in the snowpack and create a large natural avalanche cycle.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Over 100 cm of snow fell within the past week.  The snow fell relatively warm with moderate winds, which formed storm slabs.  The snow also formed large cornices.  This storm snow sits on variable feathery surface hoar in the region.  Deeper in the snowpack, an unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations.  Below, a rain crust that developed late-November with associated sugary facets are also being stressed. Snowpack test results show sudden fracture characters and high propagation potential for all of these buried layers, indicating that they can be triggered and could propagate into large, destructive avalanches. This has been the case, as shown in the Avalanche Summary.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Slabs can fail easily on this layer, either naturally or with the weight of a person or machine. Forecasted warm air temperatures could increase slab properties of the overlying snow and make this layer easier to trigger.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is variable across the region, but persistent slabs are generally a widespread problem. Wind slab and storm slab distribution will be more variable. New wind slabs can be found in parts of the region due to recent southwest winds. Windward alpine slopes may be scoured; and variable wind slabs are found at treeline and alpine elevations. New snow is likely to fail as storm slabs and/or loose avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exist. An avalanche in motion could step down to these deeper layers, creating a large and destructive avalanche. Overall snowpack depths are variable across the region. It is generally shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong southeast winds and snowfall on Friday are expected to form new storm slabs in exposed lee terrain. Below the new storm snow, you'll find about 25-50 cm of relatively low-density snow which overlies a thick crust that was buried on January 6. This crust exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the January 6 crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </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">Strong southeast winds and snowfall on Friday are expected to form new storm slabs in exposed lee terrain. Below the new storm snow, you'll find about 15-50 cm of relatively low-density snow which overlies a thick crust that was buried on January 6. This crust exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A widespread melt-freeze crust formed in mid-December is still on the radar of professionals in the northern portion of the region where it is down 40 to 50 cm below the surface. Recent observations have shown that there are rounding facets underneath the crust on shady aspects at and above treeline. Recent snowpack tests have produced easy sudden-planar results on solar aspects at and above treeline on this interface as well. Around the Coquihalla this interface is not problematic and is thought to be part of a well bonded mid-pack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.</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 snowpack is variable across the region. Wind slabs and storm slabs are found on some slopes in the alpine and at treeline.  Strong outflow winds have formed wind slabs on southerly and southwesterly lee features at all elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 45 cm recent snow overlies several layers of interest in the upper snowpack. These include crusts, surface hoar and facets. A hard crust with associated facets from mid-December sits deeper in the snowpack, about 60 cm down. Any of these layers could create a persistent slab problem if new snow, wind-loading or warming change the properties of the slab above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds have built slabs on many different slopes, primarily in the alpine but also in lee features at treeline. Recent snow (around 20-30 cm) overlies various surfaces including a freezing rain crust (which was reported as being hard in the alpine and breakable below treeline), old sun crusts and wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found in the upper snowpack. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally well-settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have brought 40-70 cm of new snow to the region. This storm snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Numerous storm slab avalanches have resulted as the new snow formed a slab before bonding to the surface. Moderate to strong southerly winds accelerated this slab formation at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it progressively forms a dangerous slab above a number of persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the (January 5) surface hoar that covered the old snow surface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show high reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches, with many of these 'stepping down' to this layer from shallower releases. This layer has been the most reactive at treeline and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, down about 90 to 150 cm, a rain crust from November has shown less reactivity in recent snowpack tests. It is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms brought 20-50 cm of new snow to the region. This snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and the deepest accumulations exist in the south of the region. Shifting winds since the storm have redistributed loose snow into wind slabs on a variety of aspects around exposed terrain features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it is forming a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar that existed at the old snow surface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show high reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 50 to 80 cm deep. Reactivity at this layer has been gradually increasing and is most apparent at treeline and below. Both of these layers are buried deeper, show greater reactivity, and present greater danger in the south of the region. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 70 to 100 cm, a rain crust from November has shown less reactivity in recent snowpack tests. It is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40 to 80 cm of recent snow is settling into a cohesive slab on top of the reactive January 5th interface which consists of a crust/surface hoar combination on steep southerly aspects and pure surface hoar on remaining aspects. The late December surface hoar also remains reactive and is now down 50 to 95 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Adding to the complexity of the mid to upper snowpack is the mid-December surface hoar which is now 60 to 130 cm below the surface. This spooky interface continues to produce sudden snowpack test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. The overlying slab is now deep, dense and destructive. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. In shallow, rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The winds were noticeable today with lots of snow transport at summit elevations. This increase in winds has created fresh windslabs on Northeast to South aspects in the alpine. At treeline, the Jan 6th &amp; Dec 15th layers start to become apparent, but still unreactive due to the lack of snow load and a slab. The Dec 6th becomes more apparent the lower you go. But again, the lack of a slab is preventing an avalanche problem. Today's notable observation was multiple stability tests with repeatable results below the Nov 27 crust(down 85cm). All tests failed with moderate loads. The technical details are: ECTP21 &amp; CTM(19) sudden collapse. In a nutshell, this is telling us that those layers are breaking down and we should keep them in mind when assessing the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong southeast winds and snowfall on Friday are expected to form dense storm slabs in exposed high elevation terrain while rain is forecast to saturate the upper snowpack at lower elevations. The newly developed storm slab may be surprisingly touchy as recent reports from the North Shore indicate that it may overly a mix of loose, dry storm snow on top of a thin crust. This combination has proven to be reactive in surprisingly low-angle terrain. About 60cm below the surface you'll also find thick melt-freeze crust that formed as a result of heavy rain at the beginning of the week. The bond at this interface will likely gain strength over time; however, professionals are monitoring this layer as it has the potential to produce large avalanches in isolated terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 150 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </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">Recent storms have brought 50 to 70 cm of new snow to the region. This storm snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Numerous storm slab avalanches resulted as the new snow formed a slab before bonding to the surface. Moderate to strong southwest winds have accelerated this slab formation at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it progressively forms a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The first of these is the January 5th surface hoar down 50 to 70 cm below the surface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show high reactivity at this layer. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another surface hoar layer from late December is showing increased involvement in 'step down' releases in the region. This layer is found at similar depths, but just below the January 5 interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below these layers, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 70 to 110 cm deep. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches, with many of these 'stepping down' to this layer from shallower releases. Its reactivity has been most apparent at treeline and below. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms brought a variable 10-60 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Moderate to strong southwest winds accompanied the snowfall at higher elevations, creating wind slabs in lee features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it is forming a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. The first of these is the surface hoar found at the old snow surface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show high reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried a widely variable 40-100 cm deep. This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches in neighbouring regions and its reactivity has been most apparent at treeline and below. In the Purcells, both of these layers are of greatest concern in areas that received greater snowfall from recent storms.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, down about 90 to 150 cm, a rain crust from November is showing reduced reactivity in snowpack tests. This layer is considered dormant but it may be triggerable in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack remains near a tipping point. Cooler temperatures Friday and Saturday reduced the sensitivity slightly but forecast warming should bring us back closer to the balance point.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Over 100 cm of snow fell within the past week.&nbsp; The snow fell relatively warm with moderate winds, which formed storm slabs.&nbsp; The snow also formed large cornices.&nbsp; This storm snow sits on variable feathery surface hoar in the region.&nbsp; Deeper in the snowpack, an unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations.&nbsp; Below, a rain crust that developed late-November with associated sugary facets are also being stressed. Snowpack test results show sudden fracture characters and high propagation potential for all of these buried layers, indicating that they can be triggered and could propagate into large, destructive avalanches. This has been the case, as shown in the Avalanche Summary.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Slabs can fail easily on this layer, either naturally or with the weight of a person or machine. Forecasted warm air temperatures could increase slab properties of the overlying snow and make this layer easier to trigger.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is variable across the region, but persistent slabs are generally a widespread problem. Wind slab and storm slab distribution will be more variable. New wind slabs can be found in parts of the region due to recent southwest winds. Windward alpine slopes may be scoured; and variable wind slabs are found at treeline and alpine elevations. New snow is likely to fail as storm slabs and/or loose avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exist. An avalanche in motion could step down to these deeper layers, creating a large and destructive avalanche. Overall snowpack depths are variable across the region. It is generally shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Warm temperatures at all elevations are consolidating the snowpack and making the surface moist. At elevations above approximately 1500 m precipitation from the previous storm fell as snow, while below that elevation, rain fell. At higher elevations, it's possible a layer of cold snow has become trapped under the most recent storm slab, increasing the likelihood of seeing slab avalanche activity. Below the new storm snow, you'll find about a thick crust buried 30-50 cm below the surface that was buried on January 6. This crust exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the January 6 crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </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">Recent storm slabs and wind slabs have formed in response to recent snow and southwest winds above approximately 1600 m. Below the new storm snow, you'll find about 15-50 cm of relatively low-density snow which overlies a thick crust that was buried on January 6. This crust exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A widespread melt-freeze crust formed in mid-December is still on the radar of professionals in the northern portion of the region where it is down 40 to 50 cm below the surface. Recent observations have shown that there are rounding facets underneath the crust on shady aspects at and above treeline. Recent snowpack tests have produced easy sudden-planar results on solar aspects at and above treeline on this interface as well. Around the Coquihalla this interface is not problematic and is thought to be part of a well bonded mid-pack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.</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">Wind slabs and storm slabs are found in alpine and at treeline areas on a variety of aspects.&nbsp; Strong outflow winds have formed wind slabs on southerly and southwesterly lee features at all elevations. Southerly winds are driving the incoming weather; although temperatures look so warm that rain is more likely than snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 45 cm recent snow overlies several layers of interest in the upper snowpack. These include crusts, surface hoar and facets. A hard crust with associated facets from mid-December sits deeper in the snowpack, about 60 cm down. Any of these layers could create a persistent slab problem as new snow, wind-loading or warming change the properties of the slab above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">20 to 30 cm of powdery snow is preserved in wind protected areas; however, in alpine and wind exposed locations there is variable wind effect and probably some slabs. This recent snow (around 20-30 cm) overlies various surfaces including a freezing rain crust (which was reported as being hard in the alpine and breakable below treeline), old sun crusts and wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found in the upper snowpack. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally well-settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Over the last week the region has has received 40 to 70 cm of new snow which rests on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. Numerous storm slab avalanches have resulted as the new snow formed a slab before bonding to the surface. Moderate to strong southerly winds accelerated slab formation at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it progressively forms a dangerous slab above a number of persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first of these is the January 5th surface hoar down 40 to 70 cm below the surface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show high reactivity at this layer. Below it, the December 15 surface hoar is now buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer has been the failure plane in many recent destructive slab avalanches, with many of these 'stepping down' to this layer from shallower releases. This layer has been most reactive at treeline and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, down about 90 to 150 cm, a rain crust from November has shown less reactivity in recent snowpack tests. It is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20 to 50 cm of new snow has fallen over the last week. This snow sits on surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and the deepest accumulations exist in the south of the region. Shifting winds since the storm have redistributed loose snow into wind slabs on a variety of aspects around exposed terrain features.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As the new snow continues to consolidate, it is forming a dangerous slab above several persistent weak layers that exist in the snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first of these is the early January surface hoar which is down 20 to 50 cm below the surface. Recent snowpack tests and avalanche activity show high reactivity at this layer. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Next is the December 15 surface hoar which is now buried 50 to 80 cm deep. Reactivity at this layer has been gradually increasing and is most apparent at treeline and below. Both of these layers are deeper, more reactive and present greater danger in the south of the region. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 70 to 100 cm, a rain crust from November has shown less reactivity in recent snowpack tests. It is considered dormant but could be triggered in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40 to 80 cm of recent snow is settling into a cohesive slab on top of the reactive January 5th interface which consists of a crust/surface hoar combination on steep southerly aspects and pure surface hoar on remaining aspects. The late December surface hoar also remains reactive and is now down 50 to 95 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Adding to the complexity of the mid to upper snowpack is the mid-December surface hoar which is now 60 to 130 cm below the surface. This spooky interface continues to produce sudden snowpack test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. The overlying slab is now deep, dense and destructive. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. In shallow, rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">As predicted, the winds made a strong appearance today. Pretty much all elevations had some wind effect going on. The alpine was by far the worst, with slabs being formed well down of ridge crests. These alpine slabs will be dense enough to be s significant concern. Treeline is the hidden hazard now. The snow above the Jan 6th layer is now firm enough to act as a slab and propagate once the underlying layers are disturbed. While we haven't really added any load to the snowpack, the dense surface slab is enough to make the Jan 6 surface hoar a real concern</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Rain has soaked into the snow at elevations below 1300 m. Only the peaks of the North Shore mountains and higher terrain near Squamish escaped the rain. At these upper elevations, the newly developed storm slab may be surprisingly touchy as there is a possibility that cold snow became trapped below the more recent dense slab. At lower elevations, a moist snow surface is likely that may become reactive to loose wet avalanche activity. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60cm below the surface you'll find a thick melt-freeze crust that formed as a result of heavy rain about a week ago. The bond at this interface will likely gain strength over time; however, professionals are monitoring this layer as it has the potential to produce large avalanches in isolated terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 150 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </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">The last series of storms left 50 to 70 cm of snow in their wake. Moderate to strong southwest winds previously formed wind slabs in upper elevation terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This snowpack is currently quite complex; there are four Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 30 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. It is thought to be widespread at all elevations bands and has produced numerous recent large avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another surface hoar layer from late December is just below the early January interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The next PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 70 to 150 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most deeply buried PWL is the late November rain crust. It is found 125 to 200 cm below the surface and has gone dormant for the time being. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The last series of storms left a variable 10 to 60 cm of snow in their wake. Moderate to strong southwest winds previously formed wind slabs in upper elevation terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This snowpack is currently quite complex; there are three Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 10 to 60 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. It is thought to be widespread at all elevations bands and has produced numerous recent large avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The next PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 40 to 100 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most deeply buried PWL is the late November rain crust. It is found 90 to 150 cm below the surface. This layer is considered dormant but it may be triggerable in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack remains near a tipping point. Cooler temperatures Friday and Saturday reduced the sensitivity slightly but forecast warming should bring us back closer to the balance point.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Over 100 cm of snow fell within the past week. The snow fell relatively warm with moderate winds, which formed storm slabs and large cornices. This storm snow sits on variable feathery surface hoar in the region. Deeper in the snowpack, an unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Below, a rain crust that developed late-November with associated sugary facets are also being stressed. Snowpack test results show sudden fracture characters and high propagation potential for all of these buried layers, indicating that they can be triggered and could propagate into large, destructive avalanches. This has been the case, as shown in the Avalanche Summary.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Slabs can fail easily on this layer, either naturally or with the weight of a person or machine. Forecasted warm air temperatures could increase slab properties of the overlying snow and make this layer easier to trigger.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is variable across the region, but persistent slabs are generally a widespread problem. Wind slab and storm slab distribution will be more variable. New wind slabs can be found in parts of the region due to recent southwest winds. Windward alpine slopes may be scoured; and variable wind slabs are found at treeline and alpine elevations. New snow is likely to fail as storm slabs and/or loose avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exist. An avalanche in motion could step down to these deeper layers, creating a large and destructive avalanche. Overall snowpack depths are variable across the region. It is generally shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Warm temperatures at all elevations are consolidating the snowpack and making the surface moist. At elevations above approximately 1500 m precipitation from the previous storm fell as snow, while below that elevation, rain fell. At higher elevations, it's possible a layer of cold snow has become trapped under the most recent storm slab, increasing the likelihood of seeing slab avalanche activity. Below the new storm snow, you'll find about a thick crust buried 30-50 cm below the surface that was buried on January 6. This crust exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the January 6 crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </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">Recent warm weather has made the surface moist, especially at upper elevations. Below the moist surface, about 30-50 cm snow overlies a thick crust that was buried on January 6. This crust exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Mid and lower snowpack layers are considered well settled and generally strong.</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">Precipitation combined with variable freezing levels delivered a mix of around 5-10 cm of new snow and freezing rain to the region on Saturday. Where the new snow exists, strong southerly winds have been blowing it into fresh wind slabs in lee terrain. Beneath the new snow, recent strong northerly outflow winds formed wind slabs on southerly and southwesterly features, so a mix of old and new wind slabs can now likely be found on all aspects in wind affected areas. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the most recent precipitation, up to 45 cm recent snow overlies several layers of interest in the upper snowpack. These include crusts, surface hoar and facets. A hard crust with associated facets from mid-December sits deeper in the snowpack, about 60 cm down. Any of these layers could create a persistent slab problem as wind-loading and warming change the properties of the slab above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Warm temperatures have moistened snow at the surface at upper elevations and cooling over Sunday night is likely to form a new crust on the surface. Below the surface, 20 to 30 cm of dry snow overlies various surfaces including a freezing rain crust (which was reported as being hard in the alpine and breakable below treeline), old sun crusts and wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found in the upper snowpack. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally well-settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The last series of storms left 40 to 70 cm of snow in their wake. Moderate to strong southerly winds previously formed wind slabs in upper elevation terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This snowpack is currently quite complex; there are three active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 40 to 70 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. It is thought to be widespread at all elevations bands and has produced numerous recent large avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The next PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 60 to 140 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most deeply buried PWL is the late November rain crust. It is down 90 to 150 cm below the surface and has been less reactive in recent snowpack tests but it may still be susceptible to human triggering, especially in alpine terrain features with a thin or widely variable snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The last series of storms left 20 to 50 cm of snow in their wake with more snow falling in the south of the region. Winds from a wide variety of directions have formed wind slabs in northeast through south facing alpine and upper treeline elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This snowpack is currently quite complex, and there are three active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 20 to 50 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. It is thought to be widespread at all elevations bands and has produced numerous recent large avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The next PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination which is now buried 50 to 80 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most deeply buried PWL is the late November rain crust. It is down 70 to 100 cm below the surface and has been less reactive in recent snowpack tests but it may still be susceptible to human triggering, especially in alpine terrain features with a thin or widely variable snowpack. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Warm alpine temperatures have made the snow surface moist on slopes that face the sun. Below the surface, 40 to 60 cm of recent snow has settling into a cohesive slab on top of the reactive January 5th interface which consists of a crust/surface hoar combination on steep southerly aspects and pure surface hoar on remaining aspects. The late December surface hoar also remains reactive and is now down 50 to 90 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Adding to the complexity of the mid to upper snowpack is the mid-December surface hoar which is now 60 to 120 cm below the surface. This spooky interface continues to produce sudden snowpack test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. The overlying slab is now deep, dense and destructive. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. In shallow, rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Variable wind effect in the alpine, with areas of hard slab, soft slab, exposed crusts, soft snow and everything in between. In some areas the wind slabs extend slightly down into Treeline, but this condition is not widespread. The Jan 6th surface hoar seems quite spotty in distribution, and is not overly reactive to ski cutting in areas skied today. The main concern in the upper snowpack is the Dec 15th interface (surface hoar, sun crust or 10cm layer of facets) which is now buried 50 to 60cm at Treeline. Forecasters continue to watch the basal layers (November and October crusts) and just recently the Nov 26th crust became reactive in snow stability tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Very warm temperatures are making the snow surface moist and primed for loose wet avalanches. Previously, rain soaked into the snow at elevations below 1300 m. Only the peaks of the North Shore mountains and higher terrain near Squamish escaped this rain. At these upper elevations, the recent storm slab may remain reactive, particularly to warming-triggered avalanches, as there is a possibility that cold snow became trapped below the more recent dense slab. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60cm below the surface you'll find a thick melt-freeze crust that formed as a result of heavy rain about a week ago. The bond at this interface will likely gain strength over time; however, professionals are monitoring this layer as it has the potential to produce large avalanches in isolated terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 150 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </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">A thin breakable crust has formed on the surface in many locations and fresh surface hoar has been reported too.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The last series of storms left 50 to 70 cm of snow in their wake. Moderate to strong southwest winds previously formed wind slabs in upper elevation terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This snowpack is currently quite complex; there are four Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 30 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. It is thought to be widespread at all elevations bands and has produced numerous recent large avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another surface hoar layer from late December is just below the early January interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The next PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 70 to 150 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most deeply buried PWL is the late November rain crust. It is found 125 to 200 cm below the surface and has gone dormant for the time being. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The last series of storms left a variable 10 to 60 cm of snow in their wake. Moderate to strong southwest winds previously formed wind slabs in upper elevation terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This snowpack is currently quite complex; there are three Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 10 to 60 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. It is thought to be widespread at all elevations bands and has produced numerous recent large avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The next PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 40 to 100 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most deeply buried PWL is the late November rain crust. It is found 90 to 150 cm below the surface. This layer is considered dormant but it may be triggerable in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Warm alpine temperatures are rapidly settling recent storm snow as well as forming moist snow on solar aspects. More importantly, warming is stressing deeper layers in the snowpack. The early January surface hoar layer is roughly 60 cm below the surface and the unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is found roughly 100 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. Below, a rain crust that developed late-November with associated sugary facets is also being stressed. Snowpack test results show sudden fracture characters and high propagation potential for all of these buried layers, indicating that they can be triggered and could propagate into large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Slabs can fail easily on this layer, either naturally or with the weight of a person or machine. Forecasted warm air temperatures could make this layer even easier to trigger.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is variable across the region, but persistent slabs are generally a widespread problem. Wind slab and storm slab distribution will be more variable. New wind slabs can be found in parts of the region due to recent southwest winds. Windward alpine slopes may be scoured; and variable wind slabs are found at treeline and alpine elevations. New snow is likely to fail as storm slabs and/or loose avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exist. An avalanche in motion could step down to these deeper layers, creating a large and destructive avalanche. Overall snowpack depths are variable across the region. It is generally shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Warm temperatures at all elevations are consolidating the snowpack and making the surface moist on all but north aspects. At elevations above approximately 1500 m precipitation from the previous storm fell as snow, while below that elevation, rain fell.  Below the new storm snow, a thick crust that was buried on January 6th is now buried 30-50 cm below the surface. This crust exists up to about 2000m elevation.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the January 6 crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </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">Recent warm weather has made the surface moist, especially at upper elevations. Below the moist surface, about 30-50 cm snow overlies a 1 cm thick crust that was buried on January 6. This crust exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Mid and lower snowpack layers including the mid December and late November crust layers have produced moderate to hard, sudden results in snowpack tests in the northern part of the region last week and may be a concern for step-down potential.</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">Surface snow is well settled after a weekend of warm alpine temperatures. Wind slabs are lingering on a range of aspects after strong southerly winds on the weekend and outflow winds last week.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the most recent precipitation, up to 40 cm recent snow overlies several layers of interest in the upper snowpack. These include crusts, surface hoar and facets. A hard crust with associated facets from mid-December sits deeper in the snowpack, about 60 cm down. These layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests and could potentially be triggered to release large avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Surface snow is well settled after a weekend of warm alpine temperatures. Old wind slabs may be lingering in exposed terrain and dry snow may still be found on shady north-facing slopes. A freezing rain crust can be found 20 cm below the surface (which was reported as being hard in the alpine and breakable below treeline). The snowpack is generally well settled, with a few prominent layers including a mid-December crusts / surface hoar layer and some early season crusts. Reports suggest the snow is well-bonded to these deeper layers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A thin breakable crust has formed on the surface in many locations and fresh surface hoar has been reported too.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The last series of storms left 40 to 70 cm of snow in their wake. Moderate to strong southerly winds previously formed wind slabs in upper elevation terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This snowpack is currently quite complex; there are three active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 40 to 70 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. It is thought to be widespread at all elevations bands and has produced numerous recent large avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The next PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 60 to 140 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most deeply buried PWL is the late November rain crust. It is down 90 to 150 cm below the surface and has been less reactive in recent snowpack tests but it may still be susceptible to human triggering, especially in alpine terrain features with a thin or widely variable snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A breakable melt freeze crust is beginning to form on the surface at and above treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The last series of storms left 20 to 50 cm of snow in their wake with more snow falling in the south of the region. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This snowpack is currently quite complex, and there are three active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 20 to 50 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects. It is thought to be widespread at all elevations bands and has produced numerous recent large avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The next PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination which is now buried 50 to 80 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most deeply buried PWL is the late November rain crust. It is down 70 to 100 cm below the surface and has been less reactive in recent snowpack tests but it may still be susceptible to human triggering, especially in alpine terrain features with a thin or widely variable snowpack. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Warm alpine temperatures have made the snow surface moist on slopes that face the sun. Below the surface, 40 to 60 cm of recent snow has settling into a cohesive slab on top of the reactive January 5th interface which consists of a crust/surface hoar combination on steep southerly aspects and pure surface hoar on remaining aspects. The late December surface hoar also remains reactive and is now down 80 to 90 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Adding to the complexity of the mid to upper snowpack is the mid-December surface hoar which is now 100 to 130 cm below the surface. This spooky interface continues to produce sudden snowpack test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. The overlying slab is now deep, dense and destructive. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. In shallow, rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Went into the Burstall Pass area today. Wind effect in the alpine. Moist snow on solar aspects which quickly froze once the sun disappeared. The Jan 6th surface hoar seems quite spotty in distribution, and is not overly reactive to ski cutting in areas skied today. The main concern in the upper snowpack is the Dec 15th interface (surface hoar, sun crust or 10cm layer of facets) which is now buried 50 to 70cm at Treeline and in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The upper snowpack consists of moist and wet snow and three prominent crusts (January 10th, January 8th an January 7th crusts) from recent warm weather and rain events.  The most notable layer is the January 7th rain crust, which is now buried 40-60 cm deep. The bond at this interface will likely gain strength over time; however, professionals are monitoring this layer as it has the potential to produce large avalanches in isolated terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 150 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Spotty freezing rain Tuesday may have left a slight &quot;glaze&quot; on the surface which adds to the crust that is being widely reported from many locations, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. Fresh surface hoar 3 to 10 mm in size has been reported to at least 2100 m, possibly higher. We can probably expect a touchy storm slab to form on this interface as storm totals exceed 10 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are two active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 30 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 70 to 150 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The November rain crust down 125 to 200 cm is thought to have gone dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent warm temperatures and strong solar input have left a crust that has been widely reported from many locations, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. Fresh surface hoar up to 10 mm in size has been reported to ridgetop. We can probably expect a touchy storm slab to form on this interface as storm totals exceed 10 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are three significant and active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 10 to 60 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown moderate planar results at this interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is buried 40 to 100 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface has also shown sudden planar results in recent snowpack tests. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The third and most deeply buried PWL is the late November rain crust. It is found 90 to 150 cm below the surface. This may be triggerable in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Warm temperatures have settled the snow and left moist snow and thin crusts on solar aspects. Recent winds transported snow last week, leaving old wind slabs in open terrain and cornices along ridges. A number of buried weak layers have been very concerning over the past week, and appears to be gaining strength very slowly. The early January surface hoar layer is around 60 cm below the surface and the unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 100 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. All of these layers have been reactive over the past week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Warm temperatures have settled the snow and left moist snow and thin crusts on the surface of solar aspects. An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Slabs can fail easily on this layer, either naturally or with the weight of a person or machine. Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exist. An avalanche in motion could step down to these deeper layers, creating a large and destructive avalanche. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is variable across the region, but persistent slabs are generally a widespread problem. Wind slab distribution will be more variable. New wind slabs can be found in parts of the region due to recent southwest winds. Windward alpine slopes may be scoured; and variable wind slabs are found at treeline and alpine elevations. Snowpack depths are variable across the region and typically shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Above 1600 m elevation, 20-40 cm of new snow overlies the January 15th crust which exists on all aspects and elevations. This crust is thin on northerly aspects and up to 3 cm thick on solar aspects. Below this crust 30-40 cm of moist, well settled snow overlies the January 6th crust which is now buried 40-80 cm below the surface and exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the January 6 crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </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">A dusting of new snow has buried the most recent, January 15th crust. This crust exists on almost all aspects and elevations with the exception of northerly aspects above 1850 m where the snow surface remained dry during the alpine inversion event on the weekend.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the January 15th crust about 30-50 cm of snow overlies a 1 cm thick crust that was buried on January 6th which exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Mid and lower snowpack layers including the mid December and late November crust layers have produced moderate to hard, sudden results in snowpack tests in the northern part of the region last week and may be a concern for step-down potential.</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">New storm slabs are developing, with extra thick and reactive slab in lee areas. The new snow is falling on a mix of old wind slabs and temperature crusts left over from the weekend. Professionals have been monitoring a few layers in the upper snowpack, including crusts and surface hoar layers buried 40-80 cm below the surface. Although these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests, they have not produced avalanches lately. The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">New snow is falling on a temperature crust left over from warm temperatures on the weekend. This crust likely exists well into the alpine. The warm temperatures also settled the upper snowpack, potentially forming a slab above buried weak layers in the top 50 cm of the snowpack. The potential weak layers include a few crusts and surface hoar layers that formed in early January and December. Recent reports suggest the snow is well bonded to most of these layers, but the recent settlement of the upper snowpack may have changed that.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Spotty freezing rain Monday may have left a slight &quot;glaze&quot; on the surface which adds to the crust that is being widely reported from many locations, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. Fresh surface hoar 3 to 10 mm in size has been reported to at least 2100 m, possibly higher. We can probably expect a touchy storm slab to form on this interface as storm totals exceed 10 cm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This snowpack is currently quite complex; there are two active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 30 to 70 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 60 to 140 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The November rain crust down 90 to 200 cm is thought to have gone dormant for the time being. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Spotty freezing rain Tuesday may have left a slight &quot;glaze&quot; on the surface which adds to the crust that is being widely reported from many locations, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. Fresh surface hoar up to 10 mm in size has been reported to ridgetop . We can probably expect a touchy storm slab to form on this interface as storm totals exceed 10 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are two significant and active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 20 to 60 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown easy to moderate planar results at this interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 50 to 80 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.  This interface has shown sudden collapse in recent snowpack tests with easy to moderate loads.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The November rain crust down 70 to 100 cm is thought to have gone dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Warm alpine temperatures have formed a crust on solar aspects while northerly aspects still hold dry snow. Below the surface, 40 to 60 cm of recent snow has settled into a cohesive slab on top of the reactive January 5th interface which consists of a crust/surface hoar combination on steep southerly aspects and pure surface hoar on remaining aspects. The late December surface hoar layer also remains reactive and is now buried 80 to 90 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Adding to the complexity of the mid to upper snowpack is the mid-December surface hoar layer which is now 100 to 130 cm below the surface. This spooky interface continues to produce sudden snowpack test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. The overlying slab is now deep, dense and destructive. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. In shallow, rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Surface hoar is continuing to grow on the surface and could become an issue if Thursday snowfall is of great amounts. Some wind effect at tree line was observed.  Jan 6 SH layer is mostly found below 2200m and not much of a concern because of the lack of a slab.  The Dec 15 layer is variable in the alpine and more prominent at treeline.  The November crusts are starting to show some breakdown with more facets around the crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The upper snowpack consists of 15-20 cm of wet snow above three prominent crusts (January 10th, January 8th and January 7th) from recent warm weather and rain events. The most notable layer is the January 7th rain crust, which is now buried 40-60 cm deep. The bond at this interface will likely gain strength over time; however, professionals are monitoring this layer as it has the potential to produce large avalanches in isolated terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 150 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Spotty freezing rain Tuesday may have left a slight &quot;glaze&quot; on the surface which adds to the crust that is being widely reported from many locations, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. Fresh surface hoar 3 to 10 mm in size has been reported to at least 2100 m, possibly higher. We can probably expect a touchy storm slab to form on this interface as storm totals exceed 10 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are two active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 30 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 70 to 150 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The November rain crust down 125 to 200 cm is thought to have gone dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent warm temperatures and strong solar input have left a crust that has been widely reported from many locations, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. Fresh surface hoar up to 10 mm in size has been reported to ridgetop. We can probably expect a touchy storm slab to form on this interface as storm totals exceed 10 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are three significant and active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 10 to 60 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown moderate planar results at this interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is buried 40 to 100 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface has also shown sudden planar results in recent snowpack tests. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The third and most deeply buried PWL is the late November rain crust. It is found 90 to 150 cm below the surface. This may be triggerable in thin spots around variable snowpack areas in the alpine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light new snow amounts have begun to give a thin cover to a new layer of feathery surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) as well as sun crust on solar aspects. Recent warm temperatures created this crust and also worked to settle the upper snowpack. Shifting winds during the warm period transported snow from last week, leaving old wind slabs in open terrain as well as cornices along ridges. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A number of buried weak layers have been very concerning over the past week, and appear to be gaining strength very slowly. The early January surface hoar layer is around 60 cm below the surface and the unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 100 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. All of these layers have been reactive over the past week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light new snow amounts forecast for Wednesday night will begin to cover both a new layer of feathery surface hoar that has been developing in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects. Recent warm temperatures formed this crust and also worked to settled the upper snowpack. Strong winds from the past few days have scoured windward slopes and formed new wind slabs in lee terrain at higher elevations. Wind direction has been variable but predominantly from the southwest.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Slabs can fail easily on this layer, either naturally or with the weight of a person or machine. Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exist. An avalanche in motion could step down to these deeper layers, creating a large and destructive avalanche. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent slab problems are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are across the region are similarly variable, but typically shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Above 1600 m elevation, 25-50 cm of new snow overlies the January 15th crust which exists on all aspects and elevations. This crust is thin on northerly aspects and up to 3 cm thick on solar aspects. Below this crust 30-40 cm of moist, well settled snow overlies the January 6th crust which is now buried 40-80 cm below the surface and exists up to about 2000m. Beneath the January 6 crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> At lower elevation below treeline the new storm snow is wet and heavy with moist snow below.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A new snow (up to 25 cm in the northern areas and about 5 cm in southern parts) has buried the most recent, January 15th crust. This crust exists on almost all aspects and elevations with the exception of northerly aspects above 1850 m where the snow surface remained dry during the alpine inversion event on the weekend.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the January 15th crust about 30-50 cm of snow overlies a 1 cm thick crust that was buried on January 6th which exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Mid and lower snowpack layers including the mid December and late November crust layers have produced moderate to hard, sudden results in snowpack tests in the northern part of the region last week and may be a concern for step-down potential.</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">New storm slabs are developing on the surface as new snow continues to accumulate. The new snow is falling on a mix of old wind slabs and temperature crusts left over from the weekend. Professionals have been monitoring a few layers in the upper snowpack, including crusts and surface hoar layers buried 40-80 cm below the surface. Although these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests, they have not produced avalanches lately. The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">New snow is falling on a temperature crust left over from warm temperatures on the weekend. This crust likely exists well into the alpine. The warm temperatures also settled the upper snowpack, potentially forming a slab above buried weak layers in the top 50 cm of the snowpack. The potential weak layers include a few crusts and surface hoar layers that formed in early January and December. Recent reports suggest the snow is well bonded to most of these layers, but the recent settlement of the upper snowpack may have changed that.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Spotty freezing rain Tuesday may have left a slight &quot;glaze&quot; on the surface which adds to the crust that is being widely reported from many locations, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. Fresh surface hoar 3 to 10 mm in size has been reported to at least 2100 m, possibly higher. We can probably expect a touchy storm slab to form on this interface as storm totals exceed 10 cm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This snowpack is currently quite complex; there are two active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 30 to 70 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 60 to 140 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The November rain crust down 90 to 200 cm is thought to have gone dormant for the time being. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Spotty freezing rain Tuesday may have left a slight &quot;glaze&quot; on the surface which adds to the crust that is being widely reported from many locations, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. Fresh surface hoar up to 10 mm in size has been reported to ridgetop . We can probably expect a touchy storm slab to form on this interface as storm totals exceed 10 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are two significant and active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The first PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 20 to 60 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown easy to moderate planar results at this interface.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 50 to 80 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine. This interface has shown sudden collapse in recent snowpack tests with easy to moderate loads.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The November rain crust down 70 to 100 cm is thought to have gone dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is complex with several buried weak layers of concern that remain active and have produced several recent, large and destructive avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 5 cm of new snow now covers the January 16th surface hoar/ crust layer that formed during the most recent period of warm weather and clear nights. This crust can be found on solar aspects while surface hoar has been buried on shaded aspects above 1600m. Below the January 16th crust lies the January 5th interface which also consists of a crust/surface combination and is buried 45-70 cm below the surface. The late-December surface hoar layer is buried 75-100 cm below the surface, and the spooky mid-December surface hoar layer is now 80-130 cm below the surface. This spooky interface continues to produce sudden snowpack test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. In shallow, rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Alpine winds have now created firm windslabs on Northeast to South aspects. They tend to be more pronounced in the northern part of the region. At treeline, the windslabs are widespread and are reaching far below ridge crests. The warmer temperatures have also contributed to settlement within the snowpack. The depth of buried weak layers will likely have changed significantly with the redistribution of snow. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">At upper treeline and alpine elevations about 10- 20 cm of new snow has fallen and now covers the January 16th crust. Near treeline and below, rain has soaked the upper snowpack which consists of 15-20 cm of wet snow above three prominent crusts (January 10th, January 8th and January 7th) from recent warm weather and rain events. The most notable layer is the January 7th rain crust, which is now buried 40-60 cm deep. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 150 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Wednesday and Thursday's highly convective storm left 10 to 25 cm in its wake. This snow buried the mid-January PWL which is a crust and/or surface hoar interface. Prior to Wednesday's storm the crust was reportedly widespread, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The now buried surface hoar is 4 to 20 mm in size and was present to at least 2100 m, possibly higher.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 40 to 80 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The third PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 70 to 150 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The November rain crust down 150 to 200 cm is thought to have gone dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Wednesday and Thursday's highly convective storm left 10 to 25 cm in its wake. This snow buried the mid-January PWL that is a crust and/or surface hoar interface. Prior to Wednesday's storm the crust was reportedly widespread, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The now buried surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and was reportedly present at all elevations before the storm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 40 to 80 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The third PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 40 to 110 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The November rain crust is 90 to 150 cm deep and is thought to have gone dormant for the time being. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 30 cm of new snow over Wednesday night and Thursday has buried a new layer of feathery surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) as well as sun crust on solar aspects. The new snow will need time to form a reliable bond to this previous surface. The recent warm temperatures that created the crust also worked to settle the upper snowpack. Shifting winds during the warm period transported loose snow into wind slabs in open terrain that are now buried by new snow. The winds also built up cornices along ridges. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A number of buried weak layers have been very concerning over the past week, and appear to be gaining strength very slowly. The early January surface hoar layer is around 60 cm below the surface and the unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 100 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. All of these layers have been reactive over the past week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of new snow from Thursday has buried both a new layer of feathery surface hoar that has been developing in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects. The new snow will need time to form a reliable bond to this previous surface. Beneath the new snow, recent strong winds (mainly from the southwest) scoured windward slopes and formed wind slabs that are now buried in lee terrain at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Slabs can fail easily on this layer, either naturally or with the weight of a person or machine. Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exist. An avalanche in motion could step down to these deeper layers, creating a large and destructive avalanche. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent slab problems are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are across the region are similarly variable, but typically shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Above 1600 m elevation, 25-50 cm of new snow overlies the January 15th crust which exists on all aspects and elevations. This crust is thin on northerly aspects and up to 3 cm thick on solar aspects. Below this crust 30-40 cm of moist, well settled snow overlies the January 6th crust which is now buried 40-80 cm below the surface and exists up to about 2000m. Beneath the January 6 crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">At lower elevation below treeline the new storm snow is wet and heavy with moist snow below.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 40-50 cm of new storm snow has buried the most recent, January 15th crust. This crust exists on almost all aspects and elevations with the exception of northerly aspects above 1850 m where the snow surface remained dry during the alpine inversion event on the weekend.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the January 15th crust about 30-50 cm of snow overlies a 1 cm thick crust that was buried on January 6th which exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Mid and lower snowpack layers including the mid December and late November crust layers have produced moderate to hard, sudden results in snowpack tests in the northern part of the region last week and may be a concern for step-down potential.</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">Snowfall over Wednesday and Thursday brought about 20 cm of new snow to the region. Moderate southwest winds over Thursday promoted storm slab formation at higher elevations and particularly in lee areas subject to wind loading. The new snow has buried a mix of old wind slabs and temperature crusts left over from the weekend. Professionals have been monitoring a few layers in the upper snowpack, including crusts and surface hoar layers buried 40-80 cm below the surface. Although these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests, they have not produced avalanches lately. The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snowfall from Wednesday and Thursday brought a variable 10-20 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow has buried a temperature crust left over from warm temperatures on the weekend. This crust likely exists well into the alpine. Beneath the crust, the same warm temperatures also worked to settle the upper snowpack, potentially forming a slab above buried weak layers in the top 50 cm of the snowpack. The potential weak layers include a few crusts and surface hoar layers that formed in early January and December. Recent reports suggest the snow is well bonded to most of these layers, but the recent settlement of the upper snowpack may have changed that.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Wednesday and Thursday's highly convective and windy storm left 10 to 25 cm in its wake. This snow buried the mid-January PWL which is a crust and/or surface hoar interface. Prior to Wednesday's storm the crust was reportedly widespread, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The now buried surface hoar is 4 to 20 mm in size and was present to at least 2100 m, possibly higher.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 40 to 80 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The third PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 70 to 150 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The November rain crust down 100 to 200 cm is thought to have gone dormant for the time being. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active Persistent Weak Layers (PWL) that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Wednesday and Thursday's highly convective storm left 10 to 20 cm in its wake. This snow buried the mid-January PWL that is a crust and/or surface hoar interface. Prior to Wednesday's storm the crust was reportedly widespread, high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The now buried surface hoar is up to 10 mm in size and was reportedly present at all elevations before the storm.&nbsp; </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The second PWL is known as the early January interface, it is 30 to 60 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The third PWL is the mid-December facet/surface hoar/crust combination that is now buried 80 to 100 cm deep and is most problematic at and below treeline. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The November rain crust is 100 to 150 cm deep and is thought to have gone dormant for the time being.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is complex with several buried weak layers of concern that remain active and have produced several recent, large and destructive avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below 1900 m Wednesday night's rain has formed a thin crust on all aspects. At higher elevations, 10-25 cm of new snow now covers the January 16th surface hoar/ crust layer. This crust can be found on solar aspects while surface hoar has been buried on shaded aspects above 1600m. Below the January 16th crust lies the January 5th interface which also consists of a crust/surface combination and is buried 50-80 cm below the surface. The late-December surface hoar layer is buried 80-100 cm below the surface, and the spooky mid-December surface hoar layer is now 100-140 cm below the surface. This spooky interface continues to produce sudden snowpack test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. In shallow, rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-20cm of new snow fell over the past 24hrs with moderate westerly winds at treeline and suspected higher winds in the alpine. This new snow is also now burying the previous windslabs that developed last week as well as a new layer of surface hoar that was being found up to treeline. Two additional layers in the upper snowpack are still producing concerns. The Jan 6th down 40cm (moderate results) and the Dec 15th down 60-80cm (producing hard results). Despite a lack of recent activity on these interfaces they are still in our mind and we are treating she;tered treeline areas cautiously. Watch for new windslabs and storm slabs building along N and E aspects at treeline and above. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">At upper treeline and alpine elevations, 5 cm up to 30 cm of new snow has fallen and now covers the January 17th crust. At lower elevations rain has soaked the upper snowpack which consists of 90 cm of wet to moist snow and three deeper crusts (January 10th, January 8th and January 7th). These remain visible but have been unreactive in recent snowpack tests.  </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 150 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40cm of storm snow now sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar interface. Prior to the storm the crust was reportedly widespread; high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The now buried surface hoar is 5 to 20mm in size and was reportedly present at all elevations before the storm. Looking deeper, a persistent weak layer known as the early January interface is 50 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and was present to at least 2100 m, possibly higher. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads. Additionally, yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, is buried 80 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 150 to 200cm deep and is thought to have gone dormant for the time being. </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">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-30cm of storm snow now sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar interface. Prior to the storm the crust was reportedly widespread; high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The now buried surface hoar is 10 to 30mm in size and was reportedly present at all elevations before the storm. Looking deeper, a persistent weak layer known as the early January interface is 40 to 80 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads. Additionally, yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, is buried 40 to 110 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 90 to 150 cm deep and is thought to have gone dormant for the time being. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 40 cm of new snow has buried a new layer of feathery surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) as well as sun crust on solar aspects. Moderate to strong winds have been encouraging slab formation over this interface at higher elevations and continuously loading loose snow into deeper slabs in lee areas. The winds have also been also building up cornices along ridges. A thin rain crust may be present about 15cm below the snow surface at 1800 m and lower. This crust likely forms the new snow interface at lower elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the new snow, a number of buried weak layers have been very concerning over the past week, and appear to be gaining strength very slowly. The early January surface hoar layer is around 60 cm below the surface and the unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 100 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. All of these layers have been reactive over the past week.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of new snow from Thursday has buried both a new layer of feathery surface hoar that has been developing in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects. The new snow will need time to form a reliable bond to this previous surface. </span><span class="s_E6FD2046">Moderate to strong winds have also been encouraging slab formation at higher elevations and continuously loading loose snow into deeper slabs in lee areas. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the new snow, Previous southwest winds formed wind slabs that are now buried in lee terrain at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Slabs may fail on this layer under the weight of a person or machine. Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exist. Storm slab releases could step down to these deeper layers to create a large and destructive avalanche. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent slab problems are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are across the region are similarly variable, but typically shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Above 1400 m elevation, 50-70 cm of storm snow overlies the January 15th crust which is present at all elevations. This crust is thin on northerly aspects and up to 3 cm thick on solar aspects. Below this crust 30-40 cm of moist, well settled snow overlies the January 6th crust which is now buried about 100 cm below the surface and exists up to about 2000m. Beneath the January 6th crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </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">Approximately 40-50 cm of new storm snow has buried the most recent, January 15th crust. This crust exists on almost all aspects and elevations with the exception of northerly aspects above 1850 m where the snow surface remained dry during the alpine inversion event on the weekend.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the January 15th crust about 30-50 cm of snow overlies a 1 cm thick crust that was buried on January 6th which exists up to about 2000m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Mid and lower snowpack layers including the mid December and late November crust layers have produced moderate to hard, sudden results in snowpack tests in the northern part of the region last week and may be a concern for step-down potential.</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">Snowfall over the mid-week brought about 30 cm of new snow to the region. Northern parts of the region saw about half this amount. The new snow has buried a mix of old wind slabs and temperature crusts left over from the weekend. More isolated surface hoar has been observed under the new snow at mid elevations that experienced cloud cover during recent inversion conditions. Storm slabs have been particularly reactive where this surface hoar exists.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have been monitoring a few layers in the upper snowpack, including crusts and surface hoar layers buried 40-80 cm below the surface. Although these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests, they have not produced avalanches lately. The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snowfall from the mid-week brought a variable 10-20 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow has buried a temperature crust that likely exists well into the alpine. There are also reports of more isolated pockets of surface hoar beneath the new snow at lower alpine and treeline elevations. This surface hoar is noted in our avalanche activity discussion for having produced numerous storm slab releases in a localized area after the storm ended. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the new snow interface, deeper weak layers in the snowpack include a few crusts and surface hoar layers that formed in early January and December. Most recent reports suggest the snow is well bonded to these layers, but snowpack tests in the north of the region have shown some easy results with sudden fracture character, suggesting that a dangerous persistent slab problem may develop as the mid and upper snowpack consolidate into a stiffer slab.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40cm of storm snow now sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar interface. Prior to the storm the crust was reportedly widespread; high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The now buried surface hoar is 5 to 20mm in size and was reportedly present up to 2100m and possibly higher. Looking deeper, a persistent weak layer known as the early January interface is 40 to 80 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads. Additionally, yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, is buried 80 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 200 cm deep and is thought to have gone dormant for the time being. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-35cm of storm snow now sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar interface. Prior to the storm the crust was reportedly widespread; high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The now buried surface hoar is up to 10mm in size and was reportedly present at all elevations before the storm. Looking deeper, a persistent weak layer known as the early January interface is 30 to 60 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden results with moderate loads. Additionally, yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. This interface is not thought to be present in the alpine. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is thought to have gone dormant for the time being. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is complex with several buried weak layers of concern that remain active and have produced several recent, large and destructive avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 20-30 cm of storm snow now covers the January 16th surface hoar/ crust layer. This crust can be found on solar aspects while surface hoar has been buried on shaded aspects above 1600m. Below the January 16th layer lies the January 5th interface which also consists of a crust/surface combination and is buried 50-90 cm below the surface. The spooky mid-December surface hoar layer is now 100-140 cm below the surface. This spooky interface continues to produce sudden snowpack test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. In shallow, rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">20cm of recent snow over the past 48hrs with strong winds.  Alpine terrain has definetly been ravenged by the winds with some windward slopes stripped bare and hard slabs on more N and E aspects.  At treeline there are two surface hoar layers down 30cm (Jan 6th) and down 50cm (Dec 15th) that have slowly becoming more reactive over the past few days.  Steeper features and unsupported roles should be treated with caution, especially in un-skied terrain.    No recent activity on the November crusts but we have not let these weaknesses fall from our thoughts.  Weak facets can be found surrounding these layers which indicates that these is potential for a slide to step down to one of these layers. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Above 1000m about 30 cm of new snow has fallen with as much as 50-60 cm of new snow at higher elevations. This storm snow now covers the January 17th crust and is being redistributed by wind at upper elevations. Below 1000 m, rain has soaked the upper snowpack which consists of 90 cm of wet to moist snow and three deeper crusts (January 10th, January 8th and January 7th). These remain visible but have been unreactive in recent snowpack tests. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is about 160 cm and many early season hazards are still present.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of storm snow and new forecasted snow for Sunday sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at all elevations. The new snow is falling with strong southwesterly winds, producing wind slabs in lee features. Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 50 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found to at least 2100 m, possibly higher. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, and signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 90 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-40 cm of storm snow now sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). Prior to the storm, the crust was reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The now buried surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and was reportedly present at all elevations before the storm. Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is 40 to 80 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 60 to 110 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. This layer is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 90 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 40 cm of new snow has buried a new layer of feathery surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) as well as sun crust on solar aspects. Moderate to strong winds have been encouraging slab formation over this interface at higher elevations and continuously loading loose snow into deeper slabs in lee areas. The winds have also been also building up cornices along ridges. A thin rain crust may be present about 15cm below the snow surface at 1800 m and lower. This crust likely forms the new snow interface at lower elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the new snow, a number of buried weak layers have been very concerning over the past week, and appear to be gaining strength very slowly. The early January surface hoar layer is around 60 cm below the surface and the unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 100 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. All of these layers were reactive and produced large, destructive avalanches in the last couple of weeks.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of new snow from last week's storm has buried both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects. The new snow will need time to form a reliable bond to this previous surface. </span><span class="s_E6FD2046">Moderate to strong winds have also been encouraging slab formation at higher elevations and continuously loading loose snow into deeper wind slabs in lee areas. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the new snow, Previous southwest winds formed wind slabs that are now buried in lee terrain at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly feathery surface hoar crystals and/or a sun crust) is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Deeper in the snowpack, an early-season rain crust and sugary facets exists. Slabs may still fail on these layers under the weight of a person, a machine, or large wind slab release. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent slab problems are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are across the region are similarly variable, but typically shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Above 1400 m elevation, 40-70 cm of storm snow overlies the crust that was buried mid-January and is present at all elevations. This crust is thin on northerly aspects and up to 3 cm thick on solar aspects. Below this crust 30-40 cm well settled snow overlies a second crust that was buried early-January and now lies about 100 cm below the surface at elevations up to 2000m. Beneath the early-January crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snowpack tests have produced easy to moderate, resistant results within the recent storm snow as well as hard, resistant results above the recently buried mid-January crust.</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">Approximately 40-60 cm of storm snow lies above the most recent crust that was buried mid-January. This crust exists on almost all aspects and elevations with the exception of northerly aspects above 1850 m and has produced moderate to hard, sudden results in recent snowpack tests.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this crust, a second thin crust that was buried early-January now lies 70-100 cm below the surface and has also been reactive in snowpack tests.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath this crust the mid and lower snowpack layers including the mid-December and late-November crust layers continue to produce hard, sudden results in snowpack tests in the northern part of the region and may still be a concern for step-down potential.</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">Last week's storm brought about 30 cm of new snow to the region. Northern parts of the region saw about half this amount. The new snow buried a mix of old wind slabs and temperature crusts left over from last weekend. More isolated surface hoar has been observed under the new snow at mid elevations that experienced cloud cover during recent inversion conditions. Storm slabs have been particularly reactive where this surface hoar exists.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have been monitoring a few layers in the upper snowpack, including crusts and surface hoar layers buried 40-80 cm below the surface. Although these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests, only one recent report exists of a persistent slab releasing over the late December weak layer. The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snowfall from last week brought a variable 10-20 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow has buried a temperature crust that likely exists well into the alpine. There are also reports of more isolated pockets of surface hoar beneath the new snow at lower alpine and treeline elevations. This surface hoar is noted in our avalanche activity discussion for having produced numerous storm slab releases in a localized area after the storm ended. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the new snow interface, deeper weak layers in the snowpack include a few crusts and surface hoar layers that formed in early January and December. Most recent reports suggest the snow is well bonded to these layers, but recent persistent slab activity over a surface hoar and facet 'combo' at low elevations suggests that a dangerous persistent slab problem may be developing as the mid and upper snowpack consolidate into a stiffer slab over this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50 cm of storm snow and new forecasted snow for Sunday sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported up to 2100 m and possibly higher. The new snow is falling with strong southwesterly winds, producing wind slabs in lee features. Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 50 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, and signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 90 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-40 cm of storm snow and another 10-30 cm of forecasted snow for Sunday sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). Prior to the storm the crust was reportedly widespread; high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The mid-January surface hoar is up to 10 mm and reported at all elevation bands. The new snow is falling with strong southwesterly winds, producing wind slabs in lee features. Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 30 to 60 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects and found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as whumpfs and cracking. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is complex with several buried weak layers of concern that remain active and have produced several recent, large and destructive avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 20-40 cm of storm snow now covers the most recent crust/surface hoar layer that was buried mid-January. This crust can be found on solar aspects while surface hoar has been buried on shaded aspects above 1600m. Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 50-90 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 100-140 cm below the surface and continues to produce sudden snowpack test results. This spooky layer is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. In shallow, rocky terrain the mid-December surface hoar and the late November crust seem to be reacting together which is a volatile combination. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A few cm's of new snow overnight has added to the recent 20cm over the past few days. Winds have been strong during the snowfalls, which has created extensive wind slabs in the Alpine and open areas at Treeline. At 2250m and below there are now 3 layers of buried surface hoar, which is very unusual for the Rockies. These are referred to as the Jan 18th, Jan 6th and Dec 15th surface hoar layers, down 25, 50 and 100cm respectively. Snowpack stability tests today indicate that all these layers are reactive, with the Jan 6th and Dec 15th layers the most concerning as there is now sufficient overlying slab to be an avalanche problem. The November crust layers are still on our radar, but still do not appear to be reactive. The question is when these layers will become a problem.....</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Above 1000m about 60 cm of new snow has fallen with as much as 80-90 cm of new snow at higher elevations. This storm snow now covers a crust that was buried on January 17th. Below this crust the upper snowpack which consists of 90 cm of moist to wet snow and three prominent crusts (buried January 10th, January 8th and January 7th respectively). While these crust remain easily identifiable they have been unreactive in recent snowpack tests. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack depth at 1000 m is now about 200 cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of storm snow now sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). Prior to the storm, the crust was reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The buried mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reportedly present at all elevations before the storm. Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is 50 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present to at least 2100 m, possibly higher. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, is buried 90 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. This layer is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of storm snow now sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). Prior to the storm, the crust was reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and is at all elevations. The recent snow fell with strong southerly winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features.  Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is buried 40 to 80 cm, present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 60 to 110 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. This layer is not thought to be present in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 90 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 40 cm of new snow has buried a new layer of feathery surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) as well as sun crust on solar aspects. Moderate to strong winds have been encouraging slab formation over this interface at higher elevations and continuously loading loose snow into deeper slabs in lee areas. The winds have also been also building up cornices along ridges. A thin rain crust may be present about 15cm below the snow surface at 1800 m and lower. This crust likely forms the new snow interface at lower elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the new snow, a number of buried weak layers have been very concerning over the past couple of weeks. A layer of surface hoar from early January is around 60 cm below the surface and the unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 100 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. All of these layers produced large, destructive avalanches in the last two weeks. Recent observations suggest that reactivity at these layers may finally be diminishing.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 40 cm of new snow from recent stormy weather has buried both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects. The new snow will need time to form a reliable bond to this previous surface. Moderate to strong winds have also been encouraging slab formation at higher elevations and continuously loading loose snow into deeper wind slabs in lee areas.</span><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the new snow, Previous southwest winds formed wind slabs that are now buried in lee terrain at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Down about 60-80 cm, weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust from mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Deeper in the snowpack, another weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets exists. Slabs may still fail on these layers under the weight of a person, a machine, or large wind slab release. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent slab problems are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are across the region are similarly variable, but typically shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region has been pummeled by heavy snowfall and extreme southerly winds. By Monday morning expect about a metre of snow to have fallen in the past 48 hours. Thanks to the winds, I would anticipate extensive scouring and redistribution of the recent storm snow at all elevation bands with dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features. Impressive cornice growth is also expected to have occurred.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 150cm below the surface you'll find a crust that was buried mid-January and is present at all elevations. This crust is thin on northerly aspects and up to 3 cm thick on solar aspects. Most reports suggest an improving bond at this interface, but the load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain. Below this, the snowpack is generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Monday morning expect about 30-60 cm of snow to have fallen in the past 48 hours. Thanks to the winds, I would anticipate redistribution of the recent storm snow at all elevation bands with storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 40-90cm below the surface you'll likely find the most recent crust that was buried mid-January. This crust exists on almost all aspects and elevations with the exception of northerly aspects above 1850 m and has produced moderate to hard, sudden results in recent snowpack tests.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath this crust the mid and lower snowpack layers including the mid-December and late-November crust layers continue to produce hard, sudden results in snowpack tests in the northern part of the region and may still be a concern for step-down potential.</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 stormy weather has gradually brought about 40 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow has buried widespread temperature crusts as well as more isolated surface hoar at mid elevations - both the product of last week's inversion conditions. Storm slabs have been particularly reactive where surface hoar exists as well as at higher elevations where shifting winds have promoted slab formation on a variety of aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have been monitoring a few layers in the upper snowpack, including crusts and surface hoar layers buried 40-80 cm below the surface. Although these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests, only one recent report exists of a persistent slab releasing over the late December weak layer. These layers are a greater concern in the north of the region. The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent light snowfalls have gradually brought about 20-30 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow has buried a temperature crust that likely exists well into the alpine. There are also reports of more isolated pockets of surface hoar beneath the new snow at lower alpine and treeline elevations. This surface hoar is noted in our avalanche activity discussion for having produced numerous storm slab releases in a localized area after the storm ended. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the new snow interface, deeper weak layers in the snowpack include a few crusts and surface hoar layers that formed in early January and December. Most recent reports suggest the snow is well bonded to these layers, but recent persistent slab activity over a surface hoar and facet 'combo' at low elevations suggests that a dangerous persistent slab problem may be developing as the mid and upper snowpack consolidate into a stiffer slab over this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of storm snow and new forecasted snow for Sunday sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported up to 2100 m and possibly higher. The recent snow fell with strong southwesterly winds, producing wind slabs in lee features.  Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 50 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, and signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking.  Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 90 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we now have three active weak layers that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of storm snow sits on a newly formed crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). Prior to the storm the crust was reportedly widespread; high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The mid-January surface hoar is up to 10 mm and reported at all elevation bands. The new snow fell with strong southwesterly winds, producing wind slabs in lee features. Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 30 to 70 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects and found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as whumpfs and cracking. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is complex with several buried weak layers of concern that remain reactive and have produced several recent, large and destructive avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 20-40 cm of storm snow now covers the most recent crust/surface hoar layer that was buried mid-January. This crust can be found on solar aspects while surface hoar has been buried on shaded aspects above 1600m. Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 50-90 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 100-140 cm below the surface and continues to produce sudden snowpack test results. This spooky layer is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Yet another day of strong winds coupled with as much as 25cm of snow in the past few days has led to continued wind slab development in the Alpine and open areas at Treeline. At 2250m and below there are now 3 layers of buried surface hoar, which is very unusual for the Rockies. These are referred to as the Jan 18th, Jan 6th and Dec 15th surface hoar layers, down 25, 50 and 100cm respectively. Recent snowpack stability tests indicate that all these layers are reactive, with the Jan 6th and Dec 15th layers the most concerning as there is now sufficient overlying slab to be an avalanche problem. The November crust layers are still on our radar, but still do not appear to be reactive at the moment.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Above 1000m about 80 cm of new snow has fallen with over 100cm of new snow at higher elevations. Strong to extreme winds have redistributed the new snow into deep and dense storm slabs. This storm snow now covers a crust that was buried on January 17th. Below this crust the snowpack is generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we have three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50 to 80 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is widespread, except possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and is likely present at all elevation bands. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is buried 70 to 100 cm. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December is 100 to 150 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 150 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-50 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and at all elevation bands. The recent snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features.  </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is buried 50 to 80 cm, present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 60 to 100 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 40 cm of new snow has buried a new layer of feathery surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) as well as sun crust on solar aspects. Moderate to strong winds have been encouraging slab formation over this interface at higher elevations and continuously loading loose snow into deeper slabs in lee areas. The winds have also been also building up cornices along ridges. A thin rain crust may be present about 15cm below the snow surface at 1800 m and lower. This crust likely forms the new snow interface at lower elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the new snow, a number of buried weak layers have been very concerning over the past couple of weeks. A layer of surface hoar from early January is around 60 cm below the surface and the unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 100 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. All of these layers produced large, destructive avalanches in the last two weeks. Recent observations suggest that reactivity at these layers remains a real concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 40 cm of new snow from recent stormy weather has buried both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects. Moderate to strong winds have been scouring away the new snow on southwest aspects while continuously loading and building wind slabs in lee areas.</span><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the new snow, Previous southwest winds formed wind slabs that are now buried in lee terrain at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Down about 60-80 cm, weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust from mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Deeper in the snowpack, another weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets exists. This deeper layer is the most concerning persistent weakness in the South Rockies. It is expected to be particularly sensitive to triggering in variable-depth snowpack areas in the alpine. Slabs may still fail on these layers under the weight of a person, a machine, or large wind slab release. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent slab problems are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are across the region are similarly variable, but typically shallower in the east.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region has been pummeled by heavy snowfall and extreme southerly winds. By Monday morning the 48 hour snowfall totals were just over 100cm. Thanks to extreme southeast winds, I would anticipate extensive scouring and redistribution of the recent storm snow at all elevation bands with dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features. Impressive cornice growth is also expected to have occurred.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 150cm below the surface you'll find a crust that was buried mid-January and is present at all elevations. This crust is thin on northerly aspects and up to 3 cm thick on solar aspects. Most reports suggest an improving bond at this interface, but the load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain. Below this, the snowpack is generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Monday morning the 48 hour snowfall totals were around 60cm in the Duffey/ Tenquille areas. Thanks to strong to extreme southwest winds, I would anticipate redistribution of the recent storm snow at all elevation bands with storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features. Further south in Coquihalla area, 48 hour storm totals were closer to 35 cm and winds were much lighter.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-120cm below the surface you'll likely find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack includes the mid-December crust layer. I'd expect an improving bond at this interface; however, the load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it's shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Stormy weather since the middle of last week has gradually brought about 50-60 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow has buried widespread temperature crusts as well as more isolated surface hoar at mid elevations - both the product inversion conditions early last week. Areas harbouring surface hoar are an increasing concern as the overlying storm snow gradually consolidates into a slab above it. This surface hoar is more likely to exist in sheltered areas at lower elevations. At alpine and upper treeline elevations, shifting winds fed with consistent snowfall have been promoting slab formation on a variety of aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have been monitoring a few layers in the mid snowpack, including crusts and surface hoar layers buried 70-130 cm below the surface. Although these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests, only one recent report exists of a persistent slab releasing over the late December weak layer. These layers are a greater concern in the north of the region. The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent light snowfalls have gradually brought about 20-30 cm of new snow to the region. The new snow has buried a temperature crust that exists well into the alpine. There are also reports of more isolated pockets of surface hoar beneath the new snow at lower alpine and treeline elevations. While its distribution is uncertain, this surface hoar remains an ongoing concern as the overlying storm snow settles into a slab above it.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the new snow interface, deeper weak layers in the snowpack include a few crusts and surface hoar layers that formed in early January and December. Most recent reports suggest the snow is well bonded to these layers, but recent persistent slab activity over a surface hoar and facet 'combo' at low elevations suggests that a dangerous persistent slab problem may be developing as the mid and upper snowpack consolidate into a stiffer slab over this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-80 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at treeline elevations and possibly higher. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 80 to 100 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, and signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is generally 150 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust was reportedly widespread; high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The mid-January surface hoar is up to 10 mm and reported at all elevation bands. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 30 to 70 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects and found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with easy to moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as whumpfs and cracking. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since last Friday between 15 and 30cm of new snow fell with the greatest accumulations occurring in the Kootenay Pass area. Moderate to locally strong southwest winds have redistributed the new snow into reactive storm slabs in exposed lee terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 30 - 50 cm of storm snow now covers the most recent crust/surface hoar layer that was buried mid-January. This crust can be found on solar aspects while surface hoar has been buried on shaded aspects above 1600m. Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 50-90 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 100-140 cm below the surface. This spooky layer still produces &quot;sudden&quot; test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline . </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. </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">Several days of very strong winds has led to widespread wind slab conditions in the Alpine and open areas at Treeline. These are found on all aspects except west, where the winds have stripped the windward slopes down to bare rock. At 2250m and below there are now 3 layers of buried surface hoar. These are referred to as the Jan 18th, Jan 6th and Dec 15th surface hoar layers, down 25, 50 and 100cm respectively. Recent snowpack stability tests indicate that all these layers are reactive, with the Jan 6th and Dec 15th layers the most concerning as there is now sufficient overlying slab to be an avalanche problem. The November and October crusts deeper in the snowpack are being tracked but remain inactive at the moment.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In recent days the region was pummeled by heavy precipitation with the rain line hovering around 800m. As of Monday morning, the 48 hour precipitation totals were up to 130mm on the North Shore mountains with closer to 60mm falling north of the Fraser Valley. Strong to extreme winds have redistributed the new snow into deep, dense and potentially destructive storm slabs while rain has saturated the snowpack at lower elevations. The reactivity of the new storm slabs is likely to vary greatly depending on elevation/ temperature and orientation to wind. In general, I would expect the touchiest conditions to exist in exposed, higher elevation terrain. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, we have three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60 to 90 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is widespread, except possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and is likely present at all elevation bands. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is buried 70 to 110 cm. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December is 100 to 150 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 150 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-60 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and at all elevation bands. The recent snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is buried 50 to 80 cm, present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 60 to 100 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 40-60 cm of storm snow now covers a layer of feathery surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) as well as sun crust on solar aspects that was buried mid-January. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A thin rain crust may be present about 15cm below the snow surface at 1800 m and lower. This crust likely forms the new snow interface at lower elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-January interface lie a number of very concerning buried weak layers. A layer of surface hoar from early-January is around 80 cm below the surface and the unstable weak layer from mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 120 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. All of these layers have produced recent large, destructive avalanches and remain a concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of recent storm snow now covers both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects buried mid-January, and about 50 cm below the surfaces lies the early-January surface hoar layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-80 cm below the surface a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust buried mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Deeper in the snowpack, another weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets buried late-November exists. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region has been pummeled by heavy snowfall and extreme southerly winds. By Tuesday morning the 72 hour snowfall totals were just over 100cm. Thanks to extreme southeast winds, I would anticipate extensive scouring and redistribution of the recent storm snow at all elevation bands with dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features. Impressive cornice growth is also expected to have occurred.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 150cm below the surface you'll find a crust that was buried mid-January and is present at all elevations. This crust is thin on northerly aspects and up to 3 cm thick on solar aspects. Most reports suggest an improving bond at this interface, but the load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain. Below this, the snowpack is generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Tuesday morning the 72 hour snowfall totals were around 60cm in the Duffey/ Tenquille areas. Thanks to strong to extreme southwest winds, I would anticipate redistribution of the recent storm snow at all elevation bands with storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features. Further south in Coquihalla area, 72 hour storm totals were closer to 35 cm and winds were much lighter.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-120cm below the surface you'll likely find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack includes the mid-December crust layer. I'd expect an improving bond at this interface; however, the load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it's shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 40-60 cm of recent storm snow covers widespread temperature crusts as well as more isolated surface hoar at mid elevations that were buried mid-January. Areas where surface hoar has been recently buried are an increasing concern as the overlying storm snow gradually consolidates into a slab above it. This surface hoar is more likely to exist in sheltered areas at lower elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have been monitoring a few layers in the mid snowpack, including crusts and surface hoar layers that were buried early-January, late-December, and mid-December and can now be found 70-130 cm below the surface. Although these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests, only one recent report exists of a persistent slab releasing over the late-December weak layer. These layers are a greater concern in the north of the region. The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent light snowfalls have gradually brought about 20-40 cm of new snow to the region. This new snow has buried the mid-January interface which features a crust that exists well into the alpine and isolated pockets of surface hoar at lower alpine and treeline elevations. While its distribution is uncertain, this surface hoar remains an ongoing concern as the overlying storm snow settles into a slab above it.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the mid-January interface, deeper weak layers in the snowpack include crusts and surface hoar layers that were buried in early-January and mid-December. Most recent reports suggest the old snow is well bonded to these layers, but recent persistent slab activity over a surface hoar and facet 'combo' at low elevations suggests that a dangerous persistent slab problem may be developing as the mid and upper snowpack consolidate into a stiffer slab over this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-80 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at treeline elevations and possibly higher. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 80 to 100 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, and signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking.  Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is generally 150 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread; high elevation north is likely one of the few crust-free zones. The mid-January surface hoar is up to 10 mm and reported at all elevation bands. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 30 to 70 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects and found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with easy to moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as whumpfs and cracking. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since last Friday, 15-30cm of new snow fell with the greatest accumulations occurring in the Kootenay Pass area. Moderate to locally strong southwest winds have redistributed the new snow into reactive storm slabs in exposed lee terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 30 - 50 cm of storm snow now covers the most recent crust/surface hoar layer that was buried mid-January. This crust can be found on solar aspects while surface hoar has been buried on shaded aspects above 1600m. Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 50-90 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 100-140 cm below the surface. This spooky layer still produces &quot;sudden&quot; test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline . </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. </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">A few cm's of new snow fell last night. With a week of very strong winds wind slabs are widespread in alpine and treeline terrain and have snuck themselves into open areas below treeline. Expect to find hard slabs in the alpine and a mix of hard and soft slabs everywhere else, except where the winds have stripped the snow down to bare rock. Cornices have grown significantly in the past few days and are now very large and looming. At 2250m and below there are 3 layers of buried surface hoar. These are referred to as the Jan 18th, Jan 6th and Dec 15th surface hoar layers, down 25, 50 and 100cm respectively. All of these layers appear reactive at the moment. The deeply buried November and October crusts are being tracked and may come alive in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In recent days the region was pummeled by heavy precipitation with the rain line hovering around 800m. As of Tuesday morning, the 72 hour precipitation totals were up to 130mm on the North Shore mountains with closer to 60mm falling north of the Fraser Valley. Strong to extreme winds have redistributed the new snow into deep, dense and potentially destructive storm slabs while rain has saturated the snowpack at lower elevations. The reactivity of the new storm slabs is likely to vary greatly depending on elevation/ temperature and orientation to wind. In general, I would expect the touchiest conditions to exist in exposed, higher elevation terrain. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">70 to 100 cm of storm snow sits on a layer of crust and/or surface hoar from mid-January. The crust is widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and is likely present at all elevation bands. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is buried 70 to 110 cm deep. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December is 100 to 150 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 150 to 200 cm deep. While generally considered dormant, occasional activity has shown that it may react in alpine areas where it is less deeply buried.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-60 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and at all elevation bands. The recent snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is buried 50 to 80 cm, present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 60 to 100 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 40-60 cm of storm snow now covers a layer of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) as well as sun crust on solar aspects that was buried mid-January. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-January interface lie a number of very concerning buried weak layers. A layer of surface hoar from early-January is buried 90-110 cm below the surface. A weak layer buried mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 120-160 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. All of these layers have produced recent large, destructive avalanches and remain a concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of recent storm snow now covers both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects buried mid-January, and about 30-50 cm below the surfaces lies the early-January surface hoar layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-80 cm below the surface a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust buried mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Near the base of the snowpack the weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets buried late-November exists. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region has been pummeled by heavy snowfall and extreme southerly winds. 20 cm of new snow on Wednesday morning continues to be redistributed by strong southeasterly winds. Last weekend's storm likely created dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features. Impressive cornice growth is also expected to have occurred.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 180cm below the surface you'll find a crust that was buried mid-January and is present at all elevations. This crust is thin on northerly aspects and up to 3 cm thick on solar aspects. Most reports suggest an improving bond at this interface, but the load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain. Below this, the snowpack is generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20 cm of new snow on Wednesday morning brings recent storm totals to 60-80cm. Moderate southerly winds continue to redistribute the new snow. Last weekend's strong to extreme southeasterly ridgetop winds likely created dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features at treeline and above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-120cm below the surface you'll likely find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack includes the mid-December crust layer. I'd expect an improving bond at this interface; however, the load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it's shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 40-80 cm of recent storm snow covers a widespread crust as well as surface hoar in isolated areas at mid elevations that were buried mid-January. This surface hoar is more likely to exist in sheltered areas at treeline and below. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have also been monitoring a few mid-pack layers within the snowpack including a crust and surface hoar layer that was buried early-January and now lies 60-100 cm below the surface, and a similar layer buried mid-December that now lies 80-120 cm below the surface. Both of these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests producing moderate to hard, sudden results and have produced recent large, natural avalanches particularly in northern areas of the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent light snowfalls have gradually brought about 20-40 cm of new snow to the region. This new snow has buried the mid-January interface which features a crust that exists well into the alpine and isolated pockets of surface hoar in sheltered areas at lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the mid-January interface, deeper weak layers in the snowpack include crusts and surface hoar layers that were buried late-December and mid-December and now lie 50-60 cm below the surface. Recent persistent slab activity over a surface hoar and facet 'combo' at low elevations suggests that a dangerous persistent slab problem may be developing as the mid and upper snowpack consolidate into a stiffer slab over this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60-90 cm of storm snow sits on a layer of crust and/or surface hoar from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at treeline elevations and possibly higher. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 80 to 100 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, and signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is generally 150 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-70 cm of storm snow sits on a layer of crust and/or surface hoar from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm is size and has been reported at all elevation bands. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 40 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects and found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with easy to moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as whumpfs and cracking with skier traffic. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-25cm of new snow brings recent storm snow total to approximately 45-60 cm which has been redistributed by strong southerly winds. This overlies the most recent crust and surface hoar (weak feathery crystals) layer that was buried mid-January. This crust can be found on solar aspects while the surface hoar has been buried on shaded aspects above 1600m. Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 70-100 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 100-130 cm below the surface. This spooky layer still produces &quot;sudden&quot; test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline . </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Light flurries were falling throuhgout the day on Wednesday but there was very little accumulations by 1600.  Not much is changing out there right now.  Widespread windslabs in the alpine should be expected and these windslabs even extend down into treeline in some areas.  At treeline and below there are a few surface hoar layers in the top 1m of the snowpack that skiers need to be aware of.  Being down less than 1m, they are within the realm of skier triggerring.  Use caution in unskied areas, and in steeper or unsupported slopes.  THe Nov crust is also a basal layer that we are starting to see sporadic activity on these days.  Treat large alpine features with caution. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In recent days the region was pummeled by heavy precipitation with the rain line hovering around 800m. 20cm of new snow is being redistributed by moderate southerly ridgetop winds. The reactivity of the new storm slabs is likely to vary greatly depending on elevation/ temperature and orientation to wind. In general, I would expect the touchiest conditions to exist in exposed, higher elevation terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">70 to 100 cm of storm snow sits on a layer of crust and/or surface hoar from mid-January. The crust is widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and is likely present at all elevation bands. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is buried 70 to 110 cm deep. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December is 100 to 150 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 150 to 200 cm deep. While generally considered dormant, occasional activity has shown that it may react in alpine areas where it is less deeply buried.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-15 cm of new snow brings recent storm snow totals to 60-80 cm which overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and at all elevation bands. The recent snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is buried 50 to 80 cm, present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 60 to 100 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-80 cm of storm snow now covers a layer of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) as well as sun crust on solar aspects that was buried mid-January. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-January interface lie a number of very concerning buried weak layers. A layer of surface hoar from early-January is buried 90-110 cm below the surface. A weak layer buried mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 120-160 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. All of these layers have produced recent large, destructive avalanches and remain a concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 30 cm of recent storm snow now covers both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects buried mid-January, and about 30-50 cm below the surfaces lies the early-January surface hoar layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-80 cm below the surface a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust buried mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Near the base of the snowpack the weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets buried late-November exists. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-40 cm of new snow on Thursday morning  brings recent storm totals to around 170 cm which continues to be redistributed by strong southeasterly winds. Last weekend's storm likely created dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features. Impressive cornice growth is also expected to have occurred.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">200-250 cm below the surface you'll find a crust that was buried mid-January and is present at all elevations. This crust is thin on northerly aspects and up to 3 cm thick on solar aspects. Most reports suggest an improving bond at this interface, but the load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain. Below this, the snowpack is generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of new snow on Thursday morning brings recent storm totals to 60-90cm. Moderate southerly winds continue to redistribute the new snow. Last weekend's strong to extreme southeasterly ridgetop winds likely created dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features at treeline and above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">90-120cm below the surface you'll likely find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack includes the mid-December crust layer. I'd expect an improving bond at this interface; however, the load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it's shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 50-80 cm of recent storm snow covers a widespread crust as well as surface hoar in isolated areas at mid elevations that were buried mid-January. This surface hoar is more likely to exist in sheltered areas at treeline and below and has produced easy, sudden results in recent snowpack tests on northerly aspects between 1300-1450 m in areas north of Terrace.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have also been monitoring a few mid-pack layers within the snowpack including a crust/ surface hoar layer that was buried early-January and now lies 60-100 cm below the surface, and a similar layer buried mid-December that now lies 80-120 cm below the surface. Both of these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests producing moderate to hard, sudden results and have produced recent large, natural avalanches particularly in northern areas of the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent light snowfalls have gradually brought from 20-60 cm of new snow across the region. This new snow has buried the mid-January interface which features a crust that exists well into the alpine and isolated pockets of surface hoar in sheltered areas at lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the mid-January interface, deeper weak layers in the snowpack include crusts and surface hoar layers that were buried late-December and mid-December and now lie 50-80 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent persistent slab activity over a surface hoar and facet 'combo' at low elevations suggests that a dangerous persistent slab problem may be developing as the mid and upper snowpack consolidate into a stiffer slab over this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60-90 cm of storm snow sits on a layer of crust and/or surface hoar from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at treeline elevations and possibly higher. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 80 to 100 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, and signs of instability such as whumpfs and cracking. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is generally 150 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that professionals are currently monitoring. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 30-70 cm of storm snow sits on a layer of crust and/or surface hoar buried mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm is size and has been reported at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 40 to 90 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects and found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with easy to moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as whumpfs and cracking with skier traffic. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack in this region is currently being described as &quot;Complex&quot; and &quot;Spooky&quot;.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-30cm of new snow brings recent storm snow total to approximately 55-70 cm which has been redistributed by strong southerly winds. Currently, the primary layer of concern was buried in mid-January and is down around 60-90cm. It is composed of a mixture of surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals) and/or a crust. This layer has been reactive to snowpack tests on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 100-120 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 120-150 cm below the surface. This layer still produces &quot;sudden&quot; test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline . </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Up to 20cm of snow over the past 24hrs at treeline elevations.  Winds continue out of the west into the moderate range with occasional gusts into the strong range.  This recent snow is burying and adding additional load to the previous windslabs that were overlying a weak facetted layer known as the dec 15th down around 1m.  At treeline and below there are a few surface hoar layers of concern within the top 1m of the snowpack.  Dec 15th SH is down generally 1m, Jan 6th down around 70cm and Jan 18th down 35cm (all depths approx).  These layers are slowly becomming more reactive as successive snow loads bury them.  This is a good time to stick to conservative terrain and let the snowpack adjust to this new load.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10cm of new snow is being redistributed by moderate southerly ridgetop winds. The reactivity of the new storm slabs is likely to vary greatly depending on elevation/ temperature and orientation to wind. In general, I would expect the touchiest conditions to exist in exposed, higher elevation terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">70 to 100 cm of storm snow sits on a layer of crust and/or surface hoar from mid-January. The crust is widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and is likely present at all elevation bands. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is buried 70 to 110 cm deep. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects and is present at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs, cracking and avalanches. Yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December is 100 to 150 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 150 to 200 cm deep. While generally considered dormant, occasional activity has shown that it may react where it is less deeply buried.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60-100 cm recent storm snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (from mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and at all elevation bands. The recent snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs, cracking and avalanches. Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 60 to 100 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-80 cm of settled storm snow now covers a layer of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and sun crust on solar aspects, that was buried mid-January. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-January interface lie a number of very concerning buried weak layers. A layer of surface hoar from early-January is buried 90-110 cm below the surface. A weak layer buried mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 120-160 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets that developed late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and is now buried 200-250 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers remain active and have produced recent large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Amounts vary across the region however, about 20-50 cm of recent storm snow now covers both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects buried mid-January, and about 30-60 cm below the surfaces lies the early-January surface hoar layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-80 cm below the surface a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust buried mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Near the base of the snowpack the weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets buried late-November exists. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-20 cm of new snow on Thursday morning brings recent storm totals to around 60-80 cm which continues to be redistributed by strong southeasterly winds. Last weekend's storm created dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features. Impressive cornice growth has also been observed on the lee side of ridgetops. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">200-250 cm below the surface you'll find a crust that was buried early January and is present at all elevations. Below this there is another crust which was buried in mid-December. Recent explosive control work has triggered storm slab avalanches that have then &quot;stepped-down&quot; to both of these crusts, resulting in very large avalanches running full path. Although these layers are over 200 cm beneath the snow surface, a large trigger such as a falling cornice or a smaller human triggered avalanche could very likely &quot;step-down&quot; to these layers resulting in very large and destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15 cm of new snow on Friday morning brings recent storm totals to 70-100cm. Moderate southerly winds continue to redistribute the new snow. Last weekend's strong to extreme southeasterly ridgetop winds likely created dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features at treeline and above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">90-120cm below the surface you'll likely find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack includes the mid-December crust layer. The load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it's shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 50 cm of recent storm snow covers a widespread crust as well as surface hoar in isolated areas at mid elevations that were buried mid-January. This surface hoar is more likely to exist in sheltered areas at treeline and below and has produced easy, sudden results in recent snowpack tests on northerly aspects between 1300-1450 m in areas north of Terrace.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have also been monitoring a few mid-pack layers within the snowpack including a crust/ surface hoar layer that was buried early-January and now lies 60-100 cm below the surface, and a similar layer buried mid-December that now lies 80-120 cm below the surface. Both of these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests producing moderate to hard, sudden results and have also produced recent large, natural avalanches in northern parts of the region near Bear Pass.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent light snowfalls have gradually brought 20-60 cm of new snow across the region. This new snow has buried the mid-January interface which features a crust that exists well into the alpine and isolated pockets of surface hoar in sheltered areas at lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the mid-January interface, deeper weak layers in the snowpack include crusts and surface hoar layers that were buried late-December and mid-December and now lie 50-80 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent persistent slab activity over a surface hoar and facet 'combo' buried in at low elevations in December suggests that a persistent slab problem may be developing as the mid and upper snowpack consolidate into a stiffer slab over this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60-90 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at treeline elevations and possibly higher. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 80 to 100 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters and signs of instability such as whumpfs, cracking and avalanches. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. A rain crust buried in November is generally 150 to 200 cm deep.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that professionals are monitoring. Recent storm snow has been shifted by winds to form wind slabs and cornices.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Down about 30-70 cm is a crust and/or surface hoar layer buried mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm is size and has been reported at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 40 to 120 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects and found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with easy to moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as whumpfs and cracking with skier traffic. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack in this region is currently being described as &quot;Complex&quot; and &quot;Spooky&quot;.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20 cm of new snow brings recent storm snow total to approximately 65-110 cm which has been redistributed by moderate southerly winds.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Currently, the primary layer of concern was buried in mid-January and is down around 60-90cm. It is composed of a mixture of surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals) and/or a crust. Numerous recent natural avalanches to size 2.5 have been reported on this sensitive layer and human triggering large, destructive avalanches on this layer remains likely.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 100-120 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 120-150 cm below the surface. This layer still produces &quot;sudden&quot; test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline . </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Lots of tricky layers out there at the moment. At first they seem confusing, but thinking of them from an elevation perspective helps. They are all on our radar as problems and they all have potential to produce large avalanches. Here's the run down:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Alpine- We have the Dec 15th facet layer as the main trouble maker and some surface windslabs that are lingering. The 15th layer is down 80-120cm and has been responsible for several slides in the last week.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Treeline- The Dec 15, Jan 6th surface hoar layer, Jan 18th surface hoar layer are all present. They are down about 85, 65 &amp; 45cm respectively. Some avalanches have been noted on the 6th, and tests show failures on all 3 layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below Treeline- Basically the same as treeline, but a lack of snow load and/or a slab property above the layers prevents them from being as big a problem. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The ski quality is actually quite good in mellow, treeline terrain. Alpine features have been windloaded and look plump at the moment.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25-35cm of new snow is being redistributed by moderate southerly ridgetop winds. The reactivity of the new storm slabs is likely to vary greatly depending on elevation/ temperature and orientation to wind. In general, I would expect the touchiest conditions to exist in exposed, higher elevation terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Some areas in the Monashees received significantly more snow (30cm +) than was forecast on Saturday, resulting in a widespread natural avalanche cycle in the afternoon. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Elsewhere in the region, 70 to 100 cm of storm snow sits on a layer of crust and/or surface hoar from mid-January. The crust is widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is buried 70 to 110 cm deep. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs, cracking and avalanches. Yet another persistent weak layer buried mid-December is 100 to 150 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 150 to 200 cm deep. While generally considered dormant, occasional activity has shown that it may react where it is less deeply buried.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60-100 cm recent storm snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (from mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size, at all elevation bands. The recent snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential, as well as other signs of instability such as whumpfs, cracking and avalanches. Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 60 to 100 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-90 cm of settled storm snow now covers a layer of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and sun crust on solar aspects, that was buried mid-January. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-January interface lie a number of very concerning buried weak layers. A layer of surface hoar from early-January is buried 90-110 cm below the surface. A weak layer buried mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 120-160 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets buried late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and is now up to 200-250 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers remain active and have produced recent large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Amounts vary across the region however, about 20-50 cm of recent storm snow now covers both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects buried mid-January, and about 30-60 cm below the surfaces lies the early-January surface hoar layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-80 cm below the surface a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust buried mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Near the base of the snowpack the weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets buried late-November exists. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-20 cm of new snow on Saturday morning brings recent storm totals to around 80-100 cm which continues to be redistributed by strong southeasterly winds which are creating dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features. Impressive cornice growth has also been observed on the lee side of ridgetops. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">200-250 cm below the surface you'll find a crust that was buried early January and is present at all elevations. Below this there is another crust which was buried in mid-December. Recent explosive control work has triggered storm slab avalanches that have then &quot;stepped-down&quot; to both of these crusts, resulting in very large avalanches running full path. Although these layers are over 200 cm beneath the snow surface, a large trigger such as a falling cornice or a smaller human triggered avalanche could very likely &quot;step-down&quot; to these layers resulting in very large and destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10 cm of new snow on Friday morning brings recent storm totals to 80-110cm. This weekend's storm will likely create dense storm slabs lurking in lee and cross-loaded features at treeline and above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">90-120cm below the surface you'll likely find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack includes the mid-December crust layer. The load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it's shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 50 cm of recent storm snow covers a widespread crust as well as surface hoar in isolated areas at mid elevations that were buried mid-January. Surface hoar is more likely to exist in sheltered areas at treeline and below with crust elsewhere. This interface has produced easy, sudden results in recent snowpack tests in the Shames area and also recent avalanche activity at upper treeline and alpine elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have also been monitoring a few mid-pack layers within the snowpack including a crust/ surface hoar layer that was buried early-January and now lies 60-100 cm below the surface, and a similar layer buried mid-December that now lies 80-120 cm below the surface. Both of these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests producing moderate to hard, sudden results and have also produced recent large, natural avalanches in northern parts of the region near Bear Pass.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent light snowfalls have gradually brought 20-60 cm of new snow across the region. This new snow has buried the mid-January interface which features a crust that exists well into the alpine and isolated pockets of surface hoar in sheltered areas at lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below the mid-January interface, deeper weak layers in the snowpack include two separate crust and surface hoar layers that were buried late-December and mid-December and now lie 50-80 cm below the surface. In the past week these deeper layers have produced hard but sudden results in recent snowpack tests as well as recent large avalanches triggered from a distance.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60-90 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at treeline elevations and possibly higher. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 80 to 100 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters and signs of instability such as whumpfs, cracking and avalanches. Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. A rain crust buried in November is generally 150 to 200 cm deep.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack in this region is currently being described as &quot;Complex&quot; and &quot;Spooky&quot;.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15 cm of new snow brings recent storm snow total to approximately 75-100 cm which has been redistributed by moderate southerly winds.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Currently, the primary layer of concern was buried in mid-January and is down around 60-90cm. It is composed of a mixture of surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals) and/or a crust. Numerous recent natural avalanches to size 2.5 have been reported on this sensitive layer and human triggering large, destructive avalanches on this layer remains likely.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 100-120 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 120-150 cm below the surface. This layer still produces &quot;sudden&quot; test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline . </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Flurries continued overnight and throughout today. Amounts added up to about 5cm, bit with settlement the overall storm totals haven't changed much. 20cm seems to be the average for overall new snow at treeline. In today's area (Purple Knob area) the Jan 6th surface hoar was down 65 and much more reactive in tests compared to the last few days. In tests, it failed with only moderate pressure(CTM12, SP). We didn't travel into the alpine today, but believe there is ongoing wind slab development on N to E aspects. As for the other trouble layers, we didn't see any results on them today, but they are still concerning.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-25cm of new snow is being redistributed by strong southwesterly ridgetop winds creating fresh storm slabs reactive to human triggers. Below the most recent storm snow there is a crust at treeline and below. The reactivity of the new storm slabs is likely to vary greatly depending on elevation/ temperature and orientation to wind. In general, I would expect the touchiest conditions to exist in exposed, higher elevation terrain. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds at times, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 70-110 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at treeline elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 100 to 140 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 120 to 170 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </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 current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 50-80 cm of recent storm snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (from mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size, at all elevation bands. The recent snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack (down 60-90 cm), a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 70 to 110 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-100cm of settled storm snow now covers a layer of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and sun crust on solar aspects, that was buried mid-January. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-January interface lie a number of very concerning buried weak layers. A layer of surface hoar from early-January is buried 90-110 cm below the surface. A weak layer buried mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 120-160 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets buried late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and is now up to 200-250 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers remain active and have produced recent large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Amounts vary across the region however, about 20-50 cm of recent storm snow now covers both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects buried mid-January, and about 30-60 cm below the surfaces lies the early-January surface hoar layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-80 cm below the surface a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust buried mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Near the base of the snowpack the weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets buried late-November exists. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another 10-20 cm of new snow on Sunday morning brings recent storm totals to around 90-120 cm. This snow continues to be redistributed by strong southeasterly winds, creating dense storm slabs in lee and cross-loaded features. Impressive cornice growth has also been observed on the lee side of ridgetops. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust that was buried in early January is buried 200-250cm below the surface at all elevations. Below this there is another crust which was buried in mid-December. Recent explosive control work has triggered storm slab avalanches that have &quot;stepped down&quot; to both of these crusts, resulting in very large avalanches running full path. Although these layers are over 200 cm beneath the snow surface, continued potential exists for large triggers such as a falling cornice or a smaller human triggered avalanche to &quot;step-down&quot; to these layers. This would result in a very large and destructive avalanche.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another 10 cm of new snow on Sunday morning brings recent storm totals to 90-120cm. Moderate to strong south winds have been redistributing each day's accumulations into dense storm slabs in lee and cross-loaded features at treeline and above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">90-120cm below the surface you'll likely find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack includes the mid-December crust layer. The load of the new snow may tip the balance and reactivate this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it has shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 50cm of recent storm snow covers a widespread crust as well as surface hoar in isolated areas at mid elevations that were buried mid-January. Surface hoar is more likely to exist in sheltered areas at treeline and below with crust elsewhere. This interface has produced easy, sudden results in recent snowpack tests in the Shames area and also recent avalanche activity at upper treeline and alpine elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have also been monitoring a few mid-pack layers within the snowpack including a crust/ surface hoar layer that was buried early-January and now lies 60-100 cm below the surface, and a similar layer buried mid-December that now lies 80-120 cm below the surface. Both of these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests producing moderate to hard, sudden results and have also produced recent large, natural avalanches in northern parts of the region near Bear Pass.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent light snowfalls have gradually brought 20-60 cm of new snow across the region. This new snow lies over a crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below, there are two separate crust and/or surface hoar layers that were buried late-December and mid-December. They are 50-80 cm below the surface. In the past week these deeper layers have produced hard but sudden results in snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring. The recent storm snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs in lee features at treeline and alpine elevations and in open areas below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 60-90 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at treeline elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 90 to 120 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters and signs of instability such as whumpfs, cracking and avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </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 current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that professionals are monitoring. Recent storm snow has been blown around by winds to form wind slabs and cornices.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) Down about 30-70 cm is a crust and/or surface hoar layer buried mid-January. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm in size, found at all elevation bands and very reactive on north east aspects between 1900-2600m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 40 to 120 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects and found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters with easy to moderate loads and high propagation potential. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 100 to 160 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 200 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/ce27b9f4-fa23-4689-8641-894e6f483672" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">See here for a good summary of snowpack test results</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715">.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack in this region is currently being described as &quot;Complex&quot; and &quot;Spooky&quot;.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another 10-20cm of new snow over Sunday night brings recent storm snow total to approximately 85-120 cm. Moderate southerly winds have been redistributing this new snow into storm slabs for several days.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Currently, the primary layer of concern was buried in mid-January and is down around 70-100cm. It is composed of a mixture of surface hoar (weak, feathery crystals) and/or a crust. Numerous recent natural avalanches to size 2.5 have been reported on this sensitive layer and human triggering large, destructive avalanches on this layer remains likely.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 110-130 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 120-150 cm below the surface. This layer still produces &quot;sudden&quot; test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline . </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Lost happening at different elevations.  </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">At tree line (below 2250m) and below tree line, there is the Jan 6 surface hoar layer that is quite visible in the snowpack. Today, our test results  on this layer were in the hard range but we expect that to vary depending on the valley.  The one thing that is consistent with this layer is that the test results always show it to be sudden planar (clean sheer and pops). Something to keep an eye out as well with the snow arriving on Monday.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Above 2250m, the Jan 6 surface hoar layer is more or less is gone.  However the Dec 15 surface hoar layer is down about 80cm.  And here is where it gets interesting.  We have seen some larger avalanches go on this layer and then quiet down. On Monday Jan 29, the forecast is for about 20cm with 55 km/h winds.  That means more wind slabs and more load on this layer which is likely to tip the odds for more avalanche activity.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Heavy rainfall is set to soak the upper snowpack at most elevations over Sunday night and Monday. High alpine elevations in areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range may see thick new storm slabs develop over the same time period. Below these variable surface conditions, storm snow totals from the past week have reached 110-180 cm and strong southerly ridgetop winds during the storm have been redistibuting each day's snow into storm slabs at all elevations. The touchiest conditions will be likely to exist in exposed, higher elevation terrain, however heavy rain may also destabilize more recent storm slabs at lower elevations and will certainly promote loose wet avalanches in steeper terrain. The crust that exists beneath all our recent snow accumulations is likely to have now formed a solid bond to the overlying snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-35 cm of storm snow fell Sunday into Monday and temperatures warmed up to -1 at tree line.</span><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">The snow fell with strong south winds at times, producing wind slabs in lee features at tree line and alpine elevations and in open areas below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow sits on a complex snowpack and there are three active weak layers that professionals are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 70-110 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 100 to 140 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 120 to 170 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </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 current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 60-90 cm of recent storm snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (from mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size, at all elevation bands. The recent snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack (down 70-100 cm), a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 80 to 120 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A rain crust buried in November is 100 to 150 cm deep and is likely dormant for the time being.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There is possibly moist snow or a crust on the snow surface up to 1700m as a result of a high freezing level on Monday through Monday night. About 60-100cm of settled storm snow now covers a layer of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and sun crust on solar aspects, that was buried mid-January. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Beneath the mid-January interface lie a number of very concerning buried weak layers. A layer of surface hoar from early-January is buried 90-110 cm below the surface. A weak layer buried mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 120-160 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets buried late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and is now up to 200-250 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers remain active and have produced recent large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust has more than likely formed on the surface of the snow with the warm temperatures and/or rain experienced on Monday. About 20-50 cm of recent snow now covers both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects buried mid-January, and about 30-60 cm below the surfaces lies the early-January surface hoar layer. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-80 cm below the surface a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust buried mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Near the base of the snowpack the weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets buried late-November exists. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another 30-40 cm of new snow from Sunday through Monday brings recent storm totals to around 110-160 cm. This snow continues to be redistributed by extreme southeasterly winds, creating dense storm slabs in lee and cross-loaded features. Impressive cornice growth has also been observed on the lee side of ridgetops. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust that was buried in early January is buried 230-280cm below the surface at all elevations. Below this there is another crust which was buried in mid-December. Recent explosive control work has triggered storm slab avalanches that have &quot;stepped down&quot; to both of these crusts, resulting in very large avalanches running full path. Although these layers are over 200 cm beneath the snow surface, large triggers such as a falling cornice or a smaller human triggered avalanche do carry a risk of &quot;stepping-down&quot; to these layers. This risk should be diminishing as temperatures cool over the coming days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another approximately 20 cm of new snow from Sunday through Monday morning brought recent storm totals to 110-140cm. Rising freezing levels delivered much of this precipitation as rain below about 1300 metres. Where new snow accumulated, continued strong south winds have once again redistributed it into dense storm slabs in lee and cross-loaded features at treeline and above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">From 110-140 cm below the surface you'll likely begin find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack includes the more well-documented mid-December crust layer. Persistent slab avalanche activity from late last week suggests that heavy triggers like a large storm slab or cornice release may carry the risk of triggering this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it has shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">60-80cm of snow covers a widespread crust as well as surface hoar in isolated areas at mid elevations that were buried mid-January. Surface hoar is more likely to exist in sheltered areas at treeline and below with crust elsewhere. This weak layer has produced easy, sudden results in snowpack tests late last week in the Shames area and also recent avalanche activity at upper treeline and alpine elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Professionals have also been monitoring a few mid-pack layers within the snowpack including a crust/ surface hoar layer that was buried early-January and now lies 70-120 cm below the surface, and a similar layer buried mid-December that now lies 100-140 cm below the surface. Both of these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests producing moderate to hard, sudden results and have also produced recent large, natural avalanches in northern parts of the region near Bear Pass.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">30-70cm of snow lies over a crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and tree line elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below, there are two separate crust and/or surface hoar layers that were buried late-December and mid-December. They are 50-80 cm below the surface. In the past week these deeper layers have produced hard but sudden results in snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-35 cm of storm snow fell Sunday into Monday and temperatures warmed up to -1 at tree line. The new snow sits on a complex snowpack and there are three active weak layers that professionals are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80-110 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 110 to 140 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters and signs of instability such as whumpfs, cracking and avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 120 to 170 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </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 snowpack in this region is currently being described as &quot;Complex&quot; and &quot;Spooky&quot;.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another 10-20cm of new snow over Sunday night brings recent storm snow total to approximately 85-120 cm. Rising temperatures delivered much of this precipitation as rain below about 1300 metres. Where it fell as snow, moderate southerly winds have again been redistributing it into touchy new storm slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Aside from storm slab instabilities, the primary layer of concern from mid-January and is buried around 80-110cm deep. It is composed of a mixture of weak surface hoar and/or a crust. Numerous recent natural avalanches to size 2.5 have been reported on this sensitive layer and human triggering large, destructive avalanches on this layer remains likely.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 110-130 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 120-150 cm below the surface. This layer still produces &quot;sudden&quot; test results and is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline . </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface, and may co-exist with facets. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> Strong to extreme West winds have created fresh wind slabs in all Alpine and Treeline terrain in lee and cross-loaded terrain. At Treeline and below several buried weak layers exist. These are surface hoar layers buried 30, 50 and 80cm on average. All these weak layers are producing sudden planar shears with the Dec 15th layer down 80cm being perhaps the most concerning. Recent avalanche activity has been observed to step down to this Dec 15th layer creating large avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Heavy rainfall soaked the upper snowpack at most elevations over Sunday night and Monday. High alpine elevations in areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range may have seen thick new storm slabs develop over the same time period. Below these elevation-dependant surface conditions, storm snow totals from the past week reached 110-180 cm. The crust that exists beneath these recent snow accumulations is likely to have now formed a solid bond to the overlying snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60-90 cm of snow fell from Sunday through to Tuesday and temperatures warmed up to -1 at tree line on Monday. Winds were strong to extreme from the south, building cornices and creating wind slabs on lee (down wind) slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow sits on a complex snowpack and there are three active weak layers that professionals are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 70-110 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 100 to 140 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 120 to 170 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </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">Large differences in storm snow totals were observed in the region on Monday into Tuesday: values ranged from 2 to 32cm!!! Overnight winds were strong to extreme from the south west and temperatures spiked to -3 at tree line. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 60-100 cm of recent storm snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (from mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size, at all elevation bands. The recent snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack (down 70-100 cm), a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 80 to 120 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</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 most recent snowfall was accompanied with strong gusty winds, leaving touchy slabs in the alpine and large fragile cornices. Warm temperatures on Monday left moist snow and crusts up to 1700 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 60-80 cm of settled storm snow now covers a layer of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and sun crust on solar aspects, that was buried mid-January. Beneath the mid-January interface lie a number of very concerning buried weak layers. A layer of surface hoar from early-January is buried 90-110 cm below the surface. A weak layer buried mid-December (predominantly surface hoar and/or a sun crust) is around 120-160 cm below the surface at treeline and below treeline elevations. A rain crust with sugary facets buried late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and is now up to 200-250 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers remain active and have produced recent large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15 cm of fresh snow and strong winds have formed wind slabs in exposed terrain and fragile cornices along ridgetops. Warm temperatures on Monday left moist snow and crusts up to about 1700 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 20-50 cm of recent snow covers a layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas and a sun crust on solar aspects that was buried in mid-January. About 30-60 cm below the surfaces lies the early-January surface hoar layer. About 60-80 cm below the surface a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust buried in mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. A weak layer of rain crusts and sugary facets buried in late-November exists near the base of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Monday's continuing storm brought another 30-40 cm of new snow to the surface above about 1600 metres with depths that increase with elevation. At higher elevations, extreme southerly winds have been scouring the new snow from windward aspects and forming deep deposits and cornices in leeward terrain. Including the new snow, storm snow totals since mid-January have reached about 170 cm. Where they haven't been blown away by the wind, these accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January that shows good signs of bonding to the overlying snow. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Other deeper layers in the snowpack include a crust that was buried in early January (now 230-280 cm below the surface) and another crust which was buried in mid-December. Although explosive control work triggered storm slab avalanches that &quot;stepped down&quot; to both of these crusts last week, they are expected to have formed an improved bond with the overlying snow in most areas. With that said, a heavy trigger like a cornice release may still carry the risk of stepping down to deeper layers on isolated features where winds have created more variable snowpack depths and brought these layers closer to the surface.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Monday's continuing storm brought 20-40 cm of new snow to the surface above about 1700 metres with depths that increase with elevation. The greatest accumulations occurred in the south of the region. The snowpack at lower elevations is now capped by a new rain crust and only light new snow amounts. At higher elevations, strong southerly winds have been redistributing the new snow deep deposits and cornices in leeward terrain. Including the new snow, storm snow totals since mid-January have reached about 150 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this depth, you'll begin find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack includes the more well-documented mid-December crust layer. Persistent slab avalanche activity from the Whistler area late last week suggests that heavy triggers like a large storm slab or cornice release may carry the risk of triggering this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it has shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Heavy snowfall in the Terrace area has delivered over 50 cm of new snow at the time of publishing (4 pm Tuesday), with another 10-20 cm possible by Wednesday afternoon. With this much new snow, storm slabs will be very touchy.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">60-100 cm of snow now covers a widespread layer that was buried in mid-January. This layer is primarily a crust, while surface hoar may be found in sheltered areas at treeline and below. Last week this weak layer produced sudden results in the Shames area and avalanche activity at upper treeline and alpine elevations. Professionals have also been monitoring a few deeper layers including a 100-140 cm deep crust / surface hoar layer that was buried in early-January, and a similar layer buried in mid-December that now lies 120-150 cm below the surface. Both of these layers have been reactive in recent snowpack tests and produced large natural avalanches in northern parts of the region near Bear Pass.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally strong, with the exception of areas around Stewart and further north where a basal crust and facets exist.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong winds have built wind slabs in exposed terrain. 30-60 cm of snow lies over a crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below, there are two crust and/or surface hoar layers that were buried in late-December and mid-December. They are 50-80 cm below the surface. In the past week these deeper layers have produced hard but sudden results in snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60-90 cm of snow fell from Sunday through to Tuesday and temperatures warmed up to -1 at tree line on Monday. Winds were strong to extreme from the south, building cornices and creating wind slabs on lee (down wind) slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow sits on a complex snowpack and there are three main weak layers that professionals are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80-110 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 110 to 140 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters and signs of instability such as whumpfs, cracking and avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 120 to 170 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</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">25-40 cm of storm snow fell from Sunday through to Tuesday and temperatures spiked to -2 at tree line in the south of the region (and +2 near Barkerville) on Monday afternoon. The new snow sits on a complex snowpack and there are three active weak layers we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) Down about 40-80 cm is a crust and/or surface hoar layer buried mid-January. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm in size, found at all elevation bands and very reactive on north east aspects between 1900-2600m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 50 to 100 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It has been most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/ee9d5ef2-3539-4eb4-8d5a-8c9c15691c24" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">See here for a good summary of snowpack test results</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715">.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have brought around 100 cm of snow to the region over the last couple of weeks. Rising temperatures delivered some of the most recent precipitation as rain below about 1300 metres on Monday. Where it fell as snow, strong southwest winds have again redistributed it into touchy new wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Aside from wind slab instabilities at the surface, the primary layer of concern from mid-January and is buried beneath all the storm snow at 80-110cm deep. It is composed of a mixture of weak surface hoar and/or a crust. Numerous recent natural avalanches to size 2.5 have been reported on this sensitive layer and human triggering large, destructive avalanches on this layer remains likely.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 110-130 cm deep. Several recent avalanches have stepped down to this layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 120-150 cm below the surface. This layer has continued to produce step down releases and &quot;sudden&quot; test results. It is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline . </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">30cm of new snow on the road and 15cm up high. Sustained alpine winds and snow have combined to create new wind slabs in the alpine and treeline. These will be reactive in their own right, but the larger worry is the rapid loading of the deeper weak layers. The Jan 6th layer is now down almost a meter at treeline. This will put the Dec 15 layer down 120-140cm. Cornices have also seen some significant growth in the last 24hrs.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light new snow amounts have begun to accummulate on the refrozen snow surface after heavy rainfall soaked the upper snowpack at most elevations over Sunday night and Monday. High alpine elevations in areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range may have seen thick new storm slabs develop over the same time period. Below these elevation-dependant surface conditions, storm snow totals from the past week reached 110-180 cm. The crust that exists beneath these recent snow accumulations is expected to have formed a solid bond to the overlying snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60 to 110 cm of snow fell between Sunday and Tuesday night.  On Monday temperatures warmed up to -1 C at tree line. Winds were strong to extreme from the south, building cornices and creating wind slabs on lee (down wind) slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow sits on a complex snowpack and there are three active weak layers that professionals are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 70 to 110 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 100 to 140 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 120 to 170 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </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">Large differences in storm snow totals were observed in the region on Monday into Tuesday: values ranged from 2 to 32cm!!! Overnight winds were strong to extreme from the southwest and temperatures spiked to -3 C at tree line. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 60-100 cm of recent storm snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (from mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size, at all elevation bands. The recent snow fell with strong south winds, producing wind slabs and cornices in lee features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack (down 70-100 cm), a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 80 to 120 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</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 most recent snowfall was accompanied with strong gusty winds, leaving touchy slabs in the alpine and large fragile cornices. Warm temperatures on Monday left moist snow and crusts up to 1700 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month we have seen regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers. A layer of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and sun crust on solar aspects was buried mid-January and is now 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December is composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar and is now buried 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and is up to 200-250 cm deep. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The bottom line is the snowpack structure in this region is weak. Human triggering is most likely on the shallower weak layers, but any avalanche has the potential to step down to deeper layers and become much larger.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The most recent snowfall was accompanied with strong gusty winds, leaving touchy slabs in the alpine and large fragile cornices. Warm temperatures on Monday left moist snow and crusts up to about 1700 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 20-50 cm of recent snow covers a weak layer that was buried in mid-January. It is composed of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas and a sun crust on solar aspects. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 30-60 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December is composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar and is now buried 60-80 cm deep. Finally, a weak layer of rain crusts and sugary facets buried in late-November exists near the base of the snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Monday's continuing storm brought another 30-40 cm of new snow to the surface above about 1600 metres with depths that increase with elevation. At treeline and below light amounts of recent snow now overlie a melt-freeze crust. At higher elevations, extreme southerly winds have scoured the new snow from windward aspects and formed deep deposits and cornices in leeward terrain. Including the new snow, storm snow totals since mid-January have reached about 170 cm. Where they haven't been blown away by the wind, these accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January that shows good signs of bonding to the overlying snow. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Other deeper layers in the snowpack include a crust that was buried in early January (now 230-280 cm below the surface) and another crust which was buried in mid-December. Although explosive control work triggered storm slab avalanches that &quot;stepped down&quot; to both of these crusts last week, they are expected to have formed an improved bond with the overlying snow in most areas. With that said, a heavy trigger like a cornice release may still carry the risk of stepping down to deeper layers on isolated features.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Monday's continuing storm brought 20-40 cm of new snow to the surface above about 1700 metres with depths that increase with elevation. The greatest accumulations occurred in the south of the region, and the snowpack at lower elevations is now capped by a new rain crust and only light new snow amounts. At higher elevations, strong southerly winds have redistributed the new snow forming deep deposits and cornices in leeward terrain. Storm snow totals since mid-January have reached about 150 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this depth, you'll likely find a few crusts that were buried during the first few weeks of January. Due to limited observations, not much is known about the current reactivity of these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack includes the more well-documented mid-December crust layer. Persistent slab avalanche activity from the Whistler area late last week suggests that heavy triggers like a large storm slab or cornice release may carry the risk of triggering this layer in isolated terrain - particularly in the north of the region where it has shown prolonged reactivity in snowpack tests.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Westerly winds and ongoing flurries are likely building fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. This sits above 50 cm of settling snow from Tuesday's storm, which is likely still reactive to human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January remains a concern and is now 60-100 cm deep. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. Prior to the storm, this layer produced sudden snowpack test results in the Shames area and avalanche activity at upper treeline and alpine elevations. Professionals have also been monitoring another two crust / surface hoar layer that were buried in mid-December and early January that are now 100-150 cm deep. These layers were most recently active in northern parts of the region near Bear Pass.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong winds have built wind slabs in exposed terrain. 30-60 cm of snow lies over a crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that formed in December are buried 50-80 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60 to 120 cm of snow fell between Sunday and Tuesday night.  On Monday temperatures warmed up to -1 C at tree line. Winds have been strong to extreme from the south which has built cornices and formed wind slabs on lee (down wind) slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow sits on a complex snowpack and there are three main weak layers that professionals are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 110 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 110 to 140 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Snowpack tests show sudden fracture characters and signs of instability such as whumpfs, cracking and recent avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 120 to 170 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</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">25 to 50 cm of storm snow fell between Sunday and Tuesday night. Temperatures spiked to -2 C at tree line in the south of the region (and +2 C near Barkerville) on Monday afternoon. The new snow sits on a complex snowpack and there are three active weak layers we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) Down about 40-80 cm is a crust and/or surface hoar layer buried mid-January. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm in size, found at all elevation bands and very reactive on north east aspects between 1900-2600m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 50 to 100 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It has been most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/ee9d5ef2-3539-4eb4-8d5a-8c9c15691c24" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">See here for a good summary of snowpack test results</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715">.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have brought around 100 cm of snow to the region over the last couple of weeks. On Monday the recent precipitation fell as rain below about 1300 metres. Where it fell as snow, strong southwest winds have again redistributed it into touchy wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Aside from wind slab instabilities at the surface, the primary layer of concern from mid-January is buried beneath all the storm snow at 80-110cm deep. It is composed of a mixture of weak surface hoar and/or a crust. Numerous recent natural avalanches to size 2.5 have been reported on this sensitive layer and human triggering large, destructive avalanches on this layer remains likely.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 110-130 cm deep. Several recent avalanches have stepped down to this layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 120-150 cm below the surface. This layer has continued to produce step down releases and &quot;sudden&quot; test results. It is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present below treeline . </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two laminated crusts created by rain events in late November lay just below the mid-December interface. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> The new snow load from the last few days is very apparent. In valley bottom there was widespread whumphing and settling. Some would radiate out for 30-40m and shaking small trees as they went. As one moves up in elevation, the storm snow decreases. Treeline hasn't seen a lot of change and the snowpack appears to have handled the new load OK. No cracking or whumphing, which was a surprise. The alpine has seen a lot of wind and there are widespread slabs on N-E aspects. Forecasters weren't brave enough to venture too close to start zones, but its thought they are stiff enough and touchy enough to be a problem.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Heavy rainfall soaked the upper snowpack at most elevations over Sunday night and Monday. High alpine elevations in areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range may have seen thick new storm slabs develop over the same time period. Below these elevation-dependant surface conditions, storm snow totals from the past week reached 110-180 cm. The crust that exists beneath these recent snow accumulations is likely to have now formed a solid bond to the overlying snow.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60 to 110 cm of snow fell between Sunday and Tuesday night. On Monday temperatures warmed up to -1 C at tree line. Winds were strong to extreme from the south, building cornices and creating wind slabs on leeward slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow sits on a complex snowpack and there are three active weak layers that professionals are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 70 to 110 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. This has been the most active failure plane for recent large avalanches in the Columbias.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 100 to 140 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 120 to 170 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Large differences in storm snow totals (2-32cm) were observed in the region on Monday into Tuesday. Overnight winds were strong to extreme from the southwest and temperatures spiked to -3 C at tree line. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60-100 cm of recent storm snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (from mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size, at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (down 70-100 cm), a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 80 to 200 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line and features prominently in recent avalanche reports.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect waves of fresh snow over the next few days as storm snow accumulates. So far, about 40 cm of low density snow sits above a breakable crust up to 1700 m. Stay aware of the condition of the new snow. Mostly low density powder is expected, but could become heavy if it warms up. Also watch for slab development in wind affected areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month we have seen regular avalanche activity on multiple deep weak layers. A layer of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and sun crust on solar aspects was buried mid-January and is now 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December is composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar and is now buried 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and is up to 200-250 cm deep. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The bottom line is the snowpack structure in this region is weak. Human triggering is most likely on the shallower weak layers, but any avalanche has the potential to step down to deeper layers and become much larger.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect waves of fresh snow over the next few days as storm snow accumulates. The distribution will be spotty, as some areas already have 30 cm and others nothing. Stay aware of the condition of the new snow. Mostly low density powder is expected, but could become heavy if it warms up. Also watch for slab development in wind affected areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 20-50 cm of recent snow covers a weak layer that was buried in mid-January. It is composed of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas and a sun crust on solar aspects. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 30-60 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December is composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar and is now buried 60-80 cm deep. Finally, a weak layer of rain crusts and sugary facets buried in late-November exists near the base of the snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As of Thursday morning 10-15 cm of new snow had fallen and was redistributed by strong southerly winds into fresh wind slabs in exposed lee terrain. At lower treeline and below, generally light amounts of snow now overlie a melt-freeze crust which formed during last Monday's warm storm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 170cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to &quot;wake-up&quot; with a large trigger such as a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As of Thursday morning 5-10 cm of new snow had fallen and was redistributed by light to moderate southerly winds into soft wind slabs in exposed lee terrain. At lower treeline and below, generally light amounts of snow now overlie a melt-freeze crust which formed during last Monday's warm storm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 80-150cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has been sensitive to skier triggering in at last one recent avalanche in the north of the region (see Avalanche Activity Discussion for details).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this crust lies another widespread crust which was buried at the beginning of January. This crust is thought to be generally gaining strength but has continued to show reactivity in the Duffey area.</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">Fresh snow will continue to accumulate the next few days. Areas around Terrace have already seen over 60 cm the past few days. Warm temperatures are promoting the settlement of new snow, while westerly winds are blowing snow around in exposed areas and forming touchy slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January remains a concern and is now 60-100 cm deep. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer has produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may become more reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are over 100 cm below the surface, but may be triggerable from thin spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong winds have built wind slabs in exposed terrain. 30-60 cm of snow lies over a crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that formed in December are buried 50-80 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60 to 120 cm of snow fell between Sunday and Tuesday night. On Monday temperatures warmed to -1 C at tree line. Winds have been strong to extreme from the south which has built cornices and formed wind slabs on lee (down wind) slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow sits on a complex snowpack with several active weak layers:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 110 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 110 to 140 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 120 to 170 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line. This layer has produced numerous recent very large avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A fourth crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for several recent large avalanches.</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">During the last few weeks of January, storms brought around 100 cm of snow to the region. On Monday precipitation fell as rain below about 1300 metres and a near-surface crust may exist in some areas below treeline. Where more recent precipitation fell as snow, southwest winds may have formed touchy wind slabs in high elevation lee terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The critical instabilities, however, are buried well below the surface. A mixture of weak surface hoar and/or a crust from mid-January is buried beneath all the storm snow at 80-110cm deep. Numerous recent avalanches to size 2.5 have been reported on this layer and large, destructive avalanches at this interface remain a concern.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 110-130 cm deep. Several recent avalanches have stepped down to this layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 120-150 cm below the surface. This layer has continued to produce step down releases and &quot;sudden&quot; test results. It is most pronounced at treeline, but is also present 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_AA239A9B"> We had an extensive look around k-country today by helicopter, dug several pits and did not see any avalanche activity.  There is evidence of a lot of wind slab in the alpine and tree line. The January 6 surface hoar layer is down around 60-70cm and is still producing moderate test results but not as widespread as previous.  The December 15 SH is still very obvious in the snowpack and is found about 90cm down but in general not producing test results in our snow pits. The big concern though is that this interface is weak and if anything is triggered in the upper snowpack, it would likely step down to the Dec 15 layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As of Thursday morning, between 10 and 25cm of new snow had fallen. In areas where winds were strong, new wind slabs likely exist. At treeline and below, the new snow overlies either a crust or moist snow from Monday's rain event. In high alpine areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range the new snow overlies thick storm slabs which developed during the stormy weather at the end of January.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A thick crust exists up to 180cm below the surface, although a strong bond is expected at this interface.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20 to 30 cm of new snow fell Thursday and Friday. This rests on up to a meter of new snow that fell last week which has settled into a slab aided by a warming event on Monday the 29th and strong to extreme southerly winds on January 29th and 30th. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Three active weak layers are now quite deep in our snowpack:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 70 to 140 cm of snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 130 to 175 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried up to 200 cm below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Large differences in storm snow totals (2-32cm) were observed in the region on Monday into Tuesday. On Monday night winds were strong to extreme from the southwest and temperatures spiked to -3 C at tree line. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The current snowpack is complex, with three active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">60-100 cm of snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (from mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size, at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (down 70-100 cm), a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 80 to 200 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line and features prominently in recent avalanche reports.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect waves of fresh snow over the next few days as storm snow accumulates. Stay aware of the condition of the new snow. Mostly low density powder is expected, but could become heavy if it warms up. Also expect slab development in wind affected areas. The new snow sits above a breakable crust up to 1700 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month we have seen regular avalanche activity on multiple deep weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and a sun crust on solar aspects and is now 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack and up to 200-250 cm deep. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The bottom line is the snowpack structure in this region is weak. Human triggering is most likely on the shallower weak layers, but any avalanche has the potential to step down to deeper layers and become much larger.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect waves of fresh snow over the next few days as storm snow accumulates. The distribution will be spotty, as some areas already have 30 cm and others nothing. Stay aware of the condition of the new snow. Mostly low density powder is expected, but could become heavy if it warms up. Strong winds will promote slab development in exposed terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with a number of concerning weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects was and is now 30-50 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 40-60 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 60-80 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On Friday morning only 3-5cm of new snow had fallen overnight as temperatures warmed up to +1 at tree line. Winds, however, were strong to extreme from the south (gusting to 121 Km/hr at the peak of Whistler) and created fresh wind slabs in exposed downwind (lee) terrain. At lower treeline and below, generally light amounts of snow now overlie a melt-freeze crust which formed during last Monday's warm storm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 170cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to &quot;wake-up&quot; with a large trigger such as a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">5-7 cm of new snow fell Thursday overnight into Friday. Temperatures warmed up to near 0 degrees at tree line and it was raining at Coquihalla Pass on Friday afternoon. In the alpine, winds were moderate to strong from the west in the Duffey zone, creating soft wind slabs in exposed down wind (lee) terrain. At lower treeline and below, warm temperatures (and rain in many locations) have created heavy snow and tough riding conditions. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 80-150cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has been sensitive to skier triggering in at last one recent avalanche in the north of the region (see Avalanche Activity Discussion for details).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this crust lies another widespread crust which was buried at the beginning of January. This crust is thought to be generally gaining strength but has continued to show reactivity in the Duffey area.</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">Fresh snow will continue to accumulate the next few days. In some areas up to a metre of storm snow has already accumulated over the past week. Warm temperatures are promoting the settlement of new snow, while westerly winds are blowing snow around in exposed areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January remains a concern and is now 60-100 cm deep. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 100 cm below the surface, but may be triggerable from thin spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Fresh snow will continue to accumulate the next few days. 20-30 cm has already accumulated since Thursday. Warm temperatures are promoting the settlement of new snow, while westerly winds are blowing snow around in exposed areas and forming touchy slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">40-70 cm of snow lies over a crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. Another two crust / surface hoar layers that formed in December are buried 60-90 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20 to 50 cm of new snow fell Thursday and Friday. This rests on up to a meter of new snow that fell last week which has settled into a slab aided by a warming event on Monday the 29th and strong to extreme southerly winds on January 29th and 30th. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Four active weak layers are now quite deep in our snowpack:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 160 cm of storm snow sits on a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The mid-January surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 150 to 175 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried up to 200 cm below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for very large recent avalanches.</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">Not a lot of snow last night. Some stations had a cm or 2, but nothing significant. What was interesting today was seeing, and feeling the wind arrive. Especially in the northern portion of the region. There are definitely new wind slabs in the alpine &amp; treeline areas on N-S aspects. The first question to ask now is: How will the load shift and will this change initiate a natural cycle? We suspect it will in the alpine, but treeline will likely remain in the human triggering range only.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">As of Friday morning, rain had begun to soak the 7-13 cm of snow that had fallen overnight. Wind slabs may remain in areas where winds were strong on Wednesday and Thursday. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">At treeline and below, the new (saturated) snow overlies either a crust or moist snow from Monday's rain event. In high alpine areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range the new snow overlies thick storm slabs which developed during the stormy weather at the end of January.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid and lower snowpack are well consolidated with no significant layers of concern. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 30 cm of new snow fell over Thursday and Friday. This rests on up to a meter of storm snow from last week which has settled into a slab aided by a warming event on Monday the 29th and strong to extreme southerly winds on January 29th and 30th. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This recent snow overlies three active weak layers that are now buried deeply in our snowpack:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 70 to 140 cm of snow now sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. This layer is the primary weak layer of concern in the South Columbias and remains well within the range of human triggering.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 130 to 175 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried up to 200 cm below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Roughly 10-20 cm of new snow fell over Thursday night and Friday, bringing recent storm snow totals to a rather variable 15-50 cm. This storm snow overlies a complex and generally weak snowpack structure with three active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">70-120 cm of snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (from mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10-30 mm in size and exists at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (down about 80-130 cm), a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 90 to 200 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line and features prominently in recent avalanche reports.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface snow conditions are highly variable depending on the position of the Arctic front. The Fernie area experienced warm temperatures Saturday morning followed by a sudden drop to frigid temperatures in the afternoon. The results was a new surface crust below 1800 m. Areas closer to the divide likely stayed cold with low density snow. Higher elevations throughout the region stayed cold and windy, allowing the growth of touchy wind slabs and cornices.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple deep weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and a sun crust on solar aspects and is 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The bottom line is the snowpack structure is weak. Human triggering is most likely on the shallower weak layers, but any avalanche has the potential to step down to deeper layers and become much larger.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An upslope storm delivered lots of cold low density snow east of the divide on Saturday (20-30 cm). The distribution of new snow is highly variable, and so are the surface snow conditions. The western parts of the region in BC were relatively warm with less snow, while areas in Alberta and around the divide were much colder and windier which likely formed touchy wind slabs in open terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with a number of concerning weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects was and is now 30-50 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 40-60 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 60-80 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Over the past two days 7-12 cm of new snow has fallen as temperatures warmed up to +2 at tree line on Saturday afternoon. Winds, however, were strong to extreme from the south, creating fresh wind slabs in exposed downwind (lee) terrain. At lower treeline and below, generally light amounts of snow or rain now overlie a melt-freeze crust which formed during last Monday's warm storm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 170cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to &quot;wake-up&quot; with a large trigger such as a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">7-12 cm of new snow has fallen near tree line in the past two days. Temperatures warmed up to near 0 degrees at tree line and it was raining at Coquihalla Pass on Saturday afternoon. In the alpine, winds were moderate to strong from the west, creating soft wind slabs in exposed down wind (lee) terrain. At lower treeline and below, warm temperatures (and rain in many locations) have created heavy snow and tough riding conditions. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 80-150cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has been sensitive to skier triggering in at last one recent avalanche in the north of the region (see Avalanche Activity Discussion for details).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this crust lies another widespread crust which was buried at the beginning of January. This crust is thought to be generally gaining strength but has continued to show reactivity in the Duffey area.</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">The region received up to a metre of snow over the past week, but warm temperatures have promoted settlement and reduced this amount to 50-70 cm. Westerly winds are blowing snow around in exposed areas. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 60-100 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 100 cm below the surface, but may be triggerable from thin spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Fresh snow will continue to accumulate the next few days. 30-50 cm has already accumulated since Thursday. The snow has mostly fallen as low density powder, but may have settled in some areas that experience a brief period of warming on Friday. Westerly winds are likely blowing snow around in exposed terrain and forming touchy slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">40-70 cm of snow lies over a crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. Another two crust / surface hoar layers that formed in December are buried 60-90 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 30 cm of new snow fell with moderate to strong winds over Thursday night and Friday, bringing recent storm snow totals to 50-80 cm. This snow rests on up to a meter of older storm snow which has settled into a slab (aided by recent wind and warming events) above the mid-January weak layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Four active weak layers are now quite deep in our snowpack:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 160 cm of storm snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 180 to 200 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 200 cm or more below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for very large recent avalanches.</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">15-25 cm of new snow fell over the region over Thursday night and Friday, bringing recent storm snow totals to 40-80 cm. This snow sits on an unstable snowpack with three active weak layers we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) The first layer is found beneath the recent storm snow and is formed of a crust and/or surface hoar layer that was buried in mid-January. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm in size, found at all elevation bands and has been very reactive on north through east aspects between 1900-2600 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 60 to 120 cm below the surface. This layer has been reported as the most active persistent weak layer during a recent natural avalanche cycle that took place in the region. It has also been the most reactive to recent explosives control.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 110 to 160 cm deep. It has been most problematic at and below tree line. Many avalanches that failed at shallower weak layers 'stepped down' to this interface during the recent avalanche cycle and in recent explosives control.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow totals over the past two days are approximately 15-30cm. Winds were gusting moderate at times and created fresh wind slabs on a wide range of aspects at upper elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Critical instabilities are buried well below the surface: </span><a href="https://youtu.be/fGxjbXDLrK8" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">See this video for a summary of conditions near Nelson.</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A mixture of weak surface hoar and/or a crust from mid-January is buried beneath all the storm snow at 80-110cm deep. Numerous recent avalanches to size 2.5 have been reported on this layer and large, destructive avalanches at this interface remain a concern.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 110-130 cm deep. Several recent avalanches have stepped down to this layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 120-150 cm below the surface. This layer has continued to produce step down releases and &quot;sudden&quot; test results. It is most pronounced at tree line, but is also present below tree line . </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">At the moment, there is 40 of new snow from the past couple of days. So far this storm has brought 20cm of cold, low density snow at treeline elevations. Alpine elevations had some wind affect today, but treeline was surprisingly calm. A profile at the top of Tryst Chutes had the Dec 15th down 115cm, Jan 6th down105cm &amp; the Jan 18th down 90cm. The test results were mixed. We had one test fail with sudden results from a moderate load (CTM12 SP). This was notable and concerning as if failed on the dec 15th layer. The other test had slightly better results, but still concerning. In this test, it failed with a heavier load (ECTP22 on the Jan 6th). The take home point: there is still huge uncertainty within the snowpack. A failure on any of those layers will be a big avalanche. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Rain and warm temperatures on Friday into Saturday have soaked the 7-13 cm of snow which fell late Thursday. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Isolated wind slabs may remain at the highest elevations where winds were strong on Wednesday and Thursday. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">At treeline and below, the new (saturated) snow overlies either a crust or moist snow from Monday's rain event. In high alpine areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range the new snow overlies thick storm slabs which developed during the stormy weather at the end of January.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid and lower snowpack are well consolidated with no significant layers of concern. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another round of snowfall began on Sunday morning and 20 cm or more of new snow is expected to accumulate on the surface by Monday morning. This is adding to about a metre of recent storm snow which has settled into a slab (aided by recent wind and warming events) above the mid-January weak layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Four active weak layers are now quite deep in our snowpack:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) About 80 to 150 cm of snow now sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. This layer is the primary weak layer of concern in the South Columbias and remains well within the range of human triggering.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 130 to 175 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried in mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried up to 200 cm below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have produced variable new snow accumulations of 20-50 cm. This snow overlies a complex and generally weak snowpack structure with three active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">70-120 cm of snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer (from mid-January). The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly at high elevations on north aspects. The surface hoar is 10-30 mm in size and exists at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (down about 80-130 cm), a persistent weak layer known as the early-January layer is present at all elevation bands, and composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another persistent weak layer that was buried mid-December is 90 to 200 cm deep and consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination. It is most problematic at and below tree line and features prominently in recent avalanche reports.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface snow conditions are highly variable depending on the position of the Arctic front. The Fernie area experienced warm temperatures Saturday morning followed by a sudden drop to frigid temperatures in the afternoon. The results was a new surface crust below 1800 m. Areas closer to the divide likely stayed cold with low density snow. Higher elevations throughout the region stayed cold and windy, allowing the growth of touchy wind slabs and cornices.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple deep weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and a sun crust on solar aspects and is 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The bottom line is the snowpack structure is weak. Human triggering is most likely on the shallower weak layers, but any avalanche has the potential to step down to deeper layers and become much larger.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An upslope storm has delivered lots of cold low density snow east of the divide on Saturday and Sunday (20-40 cm). The distribution of new snow is highly variable, and so are the surface snow conditions. The western parts of the region in BC were relatively warm with less snow, while areas in Alberta and around the divide were much colder and windier which likely formed touchy wind slabs in open terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with a number of concerning weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects is now 30-50 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 40-60 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 60-80 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Over the past two days 7-12 cm of new snow has fallen. Temperatures were steady near +1 at tree line on Sunday afternoon. Winds, however, have been consistently strong from the south, creating fresh wind slabs in exposed downwind (lee) terrain. At lower treeline and below, generally light amounts of snow or rain now overlie a melt-freeze crust which formed during Monday's warm storm from a week ago.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 170cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to &quot;wake-up&quot; with a large trigger such as a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snowfall totals are highly variable. In the south, up to 25cm of snow fell in the alpine, while tree line elevations saw 10-15cm and temperatures near 0 degrees on Sunday afternoon. In the north, new snow totals were 10-15cm in the alpine, and rapidly decreasing below 1800m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the alpine, winds were moderate to strong from the south / east (Coquihalla) and moderate from the south / west (Duffey zone), creating fresh wind slabs in exposed down wind (lee) terrain. At lower treeline and below, warm temperatures (and rain in many locations) have created heavy snow and tough riding conditions. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 80-150cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on crusts from early and mid-January which generally show signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, they been sensitive to skier triggering in at last one recent avalanche in the north of the region (see Avalanche Activity Discussion for details).</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">The weekend storm produced up to 35 cm of new snow, the region has now received up to a metre of snow over the past week, but warm temperatures have promoted settlement and reduced this amount to 50-70 cm. Westerly winds are forming fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 60-100 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 100 cm below the surface, but may be triggerable from thin spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">30-50 cm has already accumulated since Thursday. The snow has mostly fallen as low density powder, but may have settled in some areas that experience a brief period of warming on Friday. Westerly winds are likely blowing snow around in exposed terrain and forming touchy slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">40-70 cm of snow lies over a crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. Another two crust / surface hoar layers that formed in December are buried 60-90 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another round of snowfall began on Sunday morning and 15-20 cm of new snow is expected to accumulate on the surface by Monday. This is adding to 80-160 cm of recent storm snow which has settled into a slab (aided by recent wind and warming events) above the mid-January weak layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Four active weak layers are now quite deep in our snowpack:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 160 cm of storm snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, with the possible exception of high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported at tree line elevations and possibly higher. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is 180 to 200 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 200 cm or more below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for very large recent avalanches.</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">Another round of snowfall began on Sunday morning and 10-15 cm of new snow is expected to accumulate on the surface by Monday. This is adding to 40-80 cm of recent storm snow that sits over an unstable snowpack with three active weak layers we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) The first layer is found beneath the recent storm snow and is formed of a crust and/or surface hoar layer that was buried in mid-January. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm in size, found at all elevation bands and has been very reactive on north through east aspects between 1900-2600 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 60 to 120 cm below the surface. This layer was reported as the most active persistent weak layer during a recent natural avalanche cycle that took place in the region. It was also very reactive to recent explosives control.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination is buried 110 to 160 cm deep. It has been most problematic at and below tree line. Many avalanches that failed at shallower weak layers 'stepped down' to this interface during the recent avalanche cycle and explosives control.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">There is about 40cm of snow from this most recent storm.  In the alpine and tree line, this storm snow is reactive to skier traffic as a slab on lee features.  In the Commonwealth area, the Jan. 6th surface hoar was found at 2350m was about 100cm down from the top.  This layer produced variable results from easy to hard but was very planar in nature. Some reverse loading from recent North winds was noticed; which means that some of the south aspects have more snow than usual. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Rain and warm temperatures throughout the weekend saturated the upper snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">At treeline and below, approximately 20cm of wet snow overlies either a crust or moist snow from Monday's rain event a week ago. In high alpine areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range the more recent (saturated) snow has refrozen into a solid crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid and lower snowpack are well consolidated with no significant layers of concern. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 100-200 cm of snow from the past two weeks has formed a storm slab and wind slabs in lee features, which sit over an unstable snowpack.  There are four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 150 cm of storm snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported up to tree line elevations and possibly higher.  This layer is the primary weak layer of concern in the South Columbia’s and remains within the depth range of human triggering.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 120 to 170 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 150 to 200 cm below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for recent very large avalanches.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storms have produced variable new snow accumulations of 20-50 cm. Strong winds have produced wind slabs in lee features. This snow overlies a complex and generally weak snowpack structure with four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 70 to 110 cm of snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and exists at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 80 to 130 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another weak layer, which has recently produced very large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface snow conditions are highly variable depending on the position of the Arctic front. The Fernie area experienced warm temperatures Saturday morning followed by a sudden drop to frigid temperatures in the afternoon. The results was a new surface crust below 1700 m. Areas closer to the divide likely stayed cold with low density snow. Higher elevations throughout the region stayed cold and windy, allowing the growth of touchy wind slabs and cornices.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple deep weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and a sun crust on solar aspects and is 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The bottom line is the snowpack structure is weak. Human triggering is most likely on the shallower weak layers, but any avalanche has the potential to step down to deeper layers and become much larger.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An upslope storm has delivered lots of cold low density snow east of the divide since Saturday (20-40 cm). The distribution of new snow is highly variable, and so are the surface snow conditions. The western parts of the region in BC were relatively warm with less snow, while areas in Alberta and around the divide were much colder and windier which likely formed touchy wind slabs in open terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with a number of concerning weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects is now 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 70-90 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">We've had small amounts of new snow over the past several days. Temperatures had been above zero at tree line for much of the weekend, but dropped to more seasonal values on Monday. Winds, however, have been consistently strong from the south (east), creating reactive wind slabs in exposed downwind (lee) terrain. At lower treeline and below, generally light amounts of snow or rain now overlie a melt-freeze crust which formed during Monday's warm storm from a week ago.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 170cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to &quot;wake-up&quot; with a large trigger such as a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snowfall totals are highly variable. In the south, up to 40cm of snow fell in the alpine over the past two days, while tree line elevations saw 10-20cm and temperatures near 0 degrees on Monday afternoon. In the north, new snow totals were 15-20cm in the alpine, and rapidly decreasing below 1800m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the alpine, winds were moderate to strong from the south / east (Coquihalla) and moderate from the south / west (Duffey zone), creating fresh wind slabs in exposed down wind (lee) terrain. At lower treeline and below, warm temperatures (and rain in many locations) have created heavy snow and tough riding conditions. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 80-150cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on crusts from early and mid-January which generally show signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, they been sensitive to skier triggering in at last one recent avalanche in the north of the region (see Avalanche Activity Discussion for details).</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">Another 15-25 cm of new snow since Sunday morning brings settled storm snow accumulations to 50-80 cm over the past week. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 100-140 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 150 cm below the surface, but may be triggerable from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 30-50 cm of storm snow has accumulated since Thursday. The snow has mostly fallen as low density powder, but may have settled in some areas that experience a brief period of warming on Friday. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies 60-100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that formed in December are buried 80-120 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 100-200 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks has formed a widespread storm slab and wind slabs in lee features, which sit over an unstable snowpack.  There are four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 150 cm of snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported up to tree line elevations and possibly higher.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 120 to 170 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 200 cm or more below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for recent very large avalanches.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 40-100 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks has formed a slab that sits over an unstable snowpack.  There are three active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) The first layer is found beneath the recent storm snow and is formed of a crust and/or surface hoar layer that was buried in mid-January. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm in size, found at all elevation bands and has been very reactive on north through east aspects between 1900-2600 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 60 to 120 cm below the surface. This layer was reported as the most active persistent weak layer during a recent natural avalanche cycle that took place in the region. It was also very reactive to recent explosives control.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consisting of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is 100 to 180 cm deep. It has been most problematic at and below tree line. Many avalanches that failed at shallower weak layers 'stepped down' to this interface during the recent avalanche cycle and explosives control.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Each of the past three days has seen locally heavy snowfall (eg: 15cm in 5 hours at Kootenay Pass on Sunday) coupled with moderate to strong winds at upper elevations. Storm snow totals vary from 25-50 cm and the winds created reactive wind slabs at tree line and above (see Avalanche Summary above). </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Critical instabilities are buried well below the surface: </span><a href="https://youtu.be/fGxjbXDLrK8" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">See this video for a summary of conditions near Nelson.</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A mixture of weak surface hoar and/or a crust from mid-January is buried beneath all the storm snow at 90-120cm deep. Numerous recent avalanches to size 2.5 have been reported on this layer and large, destructive avalanches at this interface remain a concern.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 120-140 cm deep. Several recent avalanches have stepped down to this layer.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 130-160 cm below the surface. This layer has continued to produce step down releases and &quot;sudden&quot; test results. It is most pronounced at tree line, but is also present below tree line . </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">Another 15cm of new snow brings recent storm snow totals to between 50 and 60cm. This has fallen with relatively little wind effect in the southern part of the forecast area, but more wind effect is evident up north. In the Alpine fresh wind slabs have formed on all aspects. A large natural avalanche cycle occurred over the last 24hrs associated with these fresh wind slabs. In some cases, avalanches stepped down to deeper weak layers such as the Jan 6 surface hoar and the Dec 15 surface hoar/sun crust/facet layer, producing large to very large avalanches. Forecasters continue to monitor multiple buried weak layers between 50 and 150cm down into the snowpack. In addition, the November crusts layers have recently become active in a few isolated avalanches in shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Rain and warm temperatures throughout the weekend saturated the upper snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">At treeline and below, approximately 20cm of wet snow overlies either a crust or moist snow from Monday's rain event a week ago. In high alpine areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range the more recent (saturated) snow has refrozen into a solid crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid and lower snowpack are well consolidated with no significant layers of concern. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 50 cm of snow could accumulate on Wednesday. This overlies 100-200 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks that has formed widespread storm slabs and wind slabs in lee features, which sit over an unstable snowpack. There are four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 150 cm of storm snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported up to tree line elevations and possibly higher. This layer is the primary weak layer of concern and remains within the depth range of human triggering.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 120 to 170 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 150 to 200 cm below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for recent very large avalanches.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of snow could accumulate in the region on Wednesday.  This overlies storm and wind slabs from previous storms with strong winds.  These storm and wind slabs overly a complex and generally weak snowpack structure with four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 70 to 110 cm of snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and exists at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 80 to 130 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.  Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another weak layer, which has recently produced very large, destructive avalanches.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The Fernie area experienced warm temperatures Saturday morning followed by a sudden drop to frigid temperatures in the afternoon. The results was a new surface crust that is now buried 20-50 cm at elevations below 1700 m. Areas closer to the divide likely stayed cold with low density snow. Higher elevations throughout the region stayed cold and windy, allowing the growth of touchy wind slabs and cornices.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple deep weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and a sun crust on solar aspects and is 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The bottom line is the snowpack structure is weak. Human triggering is most likely on the shallower weak layers, however a release near the surface also has the potential to step down to deeper layers and become a much larger avalanche.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An upslope storm has delivered lots of cold low density snow east of the divide since Saturday (20-40 cm). The distribution of new snow is highly variable, and so are the surface snow conditions. The western parts of the region in BC were relatively warm with less snow, while areas in Alberta and around the divide were much colder and windier which likely formed touchy wind slabs in open terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with a number of concerning weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects is now 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 70-90 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">We've had small amounts of new snow over the past several days. Winds, however, have been consistently strong from the south (east), forming reactive wind slabs in exposed downwind (lee) terrain. Snow surfaces vary with wind pressed, scoured or 10 cm of fresh, low density snow in the alpine. Treeline and below treeline a melt-freeze crust exists with moist snow below 1500 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 170 cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on a crust from mid-January which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to &quot;wake-up&quot; with a large trigger such as a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snowfall totals are highly variable. In the south, up to 40cm of snow fell in the alpine over the past three days, while tree line elevations saw 10-20cm. In the north, new snow totals were 15-20cm in the alpine, and rapidly decreasing below 1800m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the alpine, winds were moderate to strong from the south / east (Coquihalla) and moderate from the south / west (Duffey zone), creating fresh wind slabs in exposed downwind (lee) terrain. At lower treeline and below, warm temperatures (and rain in many locations) have created heavy snow and tough riding conditions.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new snow adds to the 80-150cm of snow that fell during the last few weeks of January. These series of storms were accompanied by strong to extreme winds which resulted in extensive scouring and impressive cornice growth in upper elevation terrain. These accumulations sit on crusts from early and mid-January which generally show signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, a week ago they were sensitive to human triggering. With forecast snowfall and strong winds this deeper instability may wake up initiation large and destructive avalanches.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 20-25 cm of new snow since Sunday morning brings settled storm snow accumulations to 50-80 cm over the past week. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A freezing rain crust, 5-20 cm thick, was buried early February and can be found 10-40 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried  in mid-January is 100-140 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 150 cm below the surface, but may be triggerable from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 30-50 cm of storm snow has accumulated since last Thursday. The snow has mostly fallen as low density powder, but may have settled in some areas that experience a brief period of warming on Friday. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies 60-100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 80-120 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 50 cm of snow could accumulate in the region on Wednesday.  This overlies 100-200 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks that has formed widespread storm slabs as well as wind slabs in lee features, which sit over an unstable snowpack.  There are four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 150 cm of snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported up to tree line elevations and possibly higher.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 120 to 170 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 200 cm or more below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for recent very large avalanches.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 40 cm of snow could accumulate in the region by Wednesday afternoon.  This overlies 40-100 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks that has formed a slab that sits over an unstable snowpack.  There are three active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) The first layer is buried around 70 to 100 cm and is formed of a crust and/or surface hoar layer that was buried in mid-January. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm in size, found at all elevation bands and has been very reactive on north through east aspects between 1900-2600 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 60 to 120 cm below the surface. This layer was reported as the most active persistent weak layer during a recent natural avalanche cycle that took place in the region. It was also very reactive to recent explosives control.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is 100 to 180 cm deep. It has been most problematic at and below tree line.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_EBE90460">Recent storm snow totals vary from 25-50 cm and the winds created reactive wind slabs at tree line and above. Forecast storm snow amounts vary but the region will see significant amounts by Thursday, adding stress to the underlying and very complex snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_EBE90460">Deeper in the snowpack, surface hoar and/or a crust from mid-January is buried beneath all the storm snow at 90-120cm deep. This interface has been reactive and this interface remains a concern. Below this layer lies a second crust/surface hoar interface buried early-January that is now 120-140 cm deep. Recent avalanches have stepped down to this layer and it should remain on your radar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_EBE90460">The mid-December surface hoar layer is buried 130-170 cm below the surface. This layer has continued to produce step down releases and &quot;sudden&quot; test results. It is most pronounced at tree line and below treeline and has remains reactive especially in steeper, unsupported convex terrain features.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The recent HST has settled to 40-50cm.  Wind slabs are present on all aspects in the alpine.  Jan 6 SH was found down 90cm at 2000m with no results; yet it was very reactive one valley over two days ago.  We have low confidence in adventuring into big terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A mix of rain and snow will fall on a variety of old snow surfaces including crusts and moist snow at lower elevations. In high alpine areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range the more recent (saturated) snow has refrozen into a solid crust which means that the forecast snow will likely have a poor bond to the crust. At lower elevations rain amounts will saturate the snow surfaces further.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid and lower snowpack are well consolidated with no significant layers of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 50 and 100 cm of snow may accumulate by Thursday afternoon, with the most in the west of the region. This overlies 100-200 cm of snow from the past two weeks that has formed storm and wind slabs, which sits on an unstable snowpack. There are four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 150 cm of storm snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported up to tree line elevations and possibly higher. This layer is the primary weak layer of concern and remains within the depth range of human triggering.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 120 to 170 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 150 to 200 cm below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for recent very large avalanches.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Between 30 and 70 cm of snow could accumulate with this storm by Thursday afternoon, with the most in the southwest of the region. This new snow overlies preexisting storm and wind slabs. All of this overlies a complex and generally weak snowpack structure with four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 70 to 110 cm of snow overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 10 to 30 mm in size and exists at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 80 to 130 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden fracture characters with moderate loads and high propagation potential.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 100 to 150 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another weak layer, which has recently produced very large, destructive avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow covers two crusts that formed late January and early February and are now buried 20-40 cm below the surface at elevations below 1700 m in the Fernie area. At higher elevations and in exposed areas at treeline winds have formed reactive wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and a sun crust on solar aspects and is 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The bottom line is the snowpack structure is weak. Human triggering is most likely on the shallower weak layers, however a release near the surface also has the potential to step down to deeper layers and become a much larger avalanche.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An upslope storm has delivered lots of cold low density snow east of the divide since the weekend (20-40 cm). The distribution of new snow is highly variable, and so are the surface snow conditions. The western parts of the region in BC were relatively warm with less snow, while areas in Alberta and around the divide were much colder and windier which has formed wind slabs in open terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with a number of concerning weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects is now 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 70-90 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow up to 10 cm and consistently strong winds from the south east have formed reactive wind slabs in exposed leeward terrain. Below this is a variety of old snow surfaces including wind pressed, scoured or fresh, low density snow in the alpine. Treeline and below treeline a melt-freeze crust exists with moist snow below 1500 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An average of 170 cm of settled snow now sits on the mid-January crust which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to &quot;wake-up&quot; with a large trigger such as a cornice fall. Cornices are large and fragile and demand respect. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_EBE90460">Recent snowfall totals are highly variable. In the south, up to 20 cm of new snow fell bringing the alpine totals up to 40 cm since the weekend. In the north, new snow totals are half that and rapidly decreasing below 1800m. This new snow sits on old wind slabs in alpine locations and has buried a crust at treeline. At lower treeline and below elevations, warm temperatures (and rain in many locations) have created heavy snow conditions. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_EBE90460">This new snow adds to the 80-150 cm mid pack that sits above the mid- January crust, which generally shows signs of bonding. I would still remain suspect of this deeper layer, especially now, with additional load stressing the snowpack. Large fragile cornices could also act as a trigger on the slope below. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wednesday's storm delivered another 20-30 cm of new snow during the day, and a mix of rain and freezing rain for areas west of Terrace, bringing storm snow totals of over 100 cm in the last 10 or 12 days.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Beneath the storm snow lies a 5-20 cm thick crust that was buried early February and can be found 40-90 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 120-150 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 150 cm below the surface, but may be triggerable from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wednesday's storm delivered about 15 cm of new snow during the day bringing storm snow totals to 40-80 cm since last Thursday which has mostly formed well settled upper snowpack layers. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies 50-90 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 90-130 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 80 cm of snow could accumulate in the region by Thursday afternoon. This overlies 100-200 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks that has formed widespread storm slabs as well as wind slabs in lee features. All of this sits on an unstable snowpack. There are four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 80 to 150 cm of snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar is 5 to 20 mm in size and was reported up to tree line elevations and possibly higher.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 120 to 170 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 200 cm or more below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for recent very large avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 70 cm of snow could accumulate with the storm by Thursday afternoon. This overlies 50-100 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks that has formed a slab that sits over an unstable snowpack. There are four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) The first layer is buried around 70 to 100 cm and is formed of a crust and/or surface hoar layer that was buried in mid-January. The surface hoar is up to 10 mm in size, found at all elevation bands and has been very reactive on north through east aspects between 1900-2600 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January persistent weak layer is found 60 to 120 cm below the surface. This layer was reported as the most active persistent weak layer during a recent natural avalanche cycle that took place in the region. It was also very reactive to recent explosives control.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is 100 to 180 cm deep. It has been most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another layer that could reactive with additional load.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_EBE90460">Up to 20 cm of new storm snow accompanied by strong winds adds stress to the upper snowpack. This now brings 90-140 cm of settled snow over two surface hoar/ crust layers that were formed early to mid-January. Digging deeper 160-200 cm sits the mid-December surface hoar layer. All of these persistent weak layers lurk within the snowpack and continue to be reactive, producing large and destructive avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_EBE90460">Near the base of the snowpack exists a crust/ facet interface which could be triggered by a step down avalanche, cornice failure, thin to thick spot triggering by people or reaching its threshold with new load from above. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_EBE90460">The snowpack is extremely complex and requires respect and diligence at this time.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last night we received more wind than expected. Lots of wind transport involving the storm snow. The winds were out of the north and as such, the new wind slabs are on NE-SW aspects. Temperatures also crept up today to near 0C. This has made for increased slab development as the snow bonded quickly. These new slabs are at all elevations, and all aspects when the older wind slabs are taken into account. The weak layers are much deeper now and very stressed. Some crowns from today were almost 2m deep.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A mix of rain and snow fell on a variety of old snow surfaces including crusts and moist snow at lower elevations. In high alpine areas like Sky Pilot and the Chehalis Range the more recent (saturated) snow has refrozen into a solid crust and the new snow may have a poor bond to that crust. At lower elevations snow surfaces are moist/ wet and have become unstable. The mid and lower snowpack are well consolidated with no significant layers of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30-40 cm of snow fell during Wednesday's storm. 130-240 cm storm snow totals from the past two weeks have now consolidated into a deep slab over four active weak layers:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 130 to 240 cm of storm snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is widespread, with the exception of high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar was reported up to tree line and possibly higher. This layer is our primary weak layer of concern, partially for remaining nearest to the depth range of human triggering.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 160 to 260 cm deep. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 170 to 280 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for recent very large avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that choosing simple terrain free of overhead hazard is the best avoidance strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Roughly 20-30 cm of new snow fell during Wednesday's storm and buried preexisting storm and wind slabs. Collectively this storm snow overlies a complex and generally weak snowpack structure with four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 90 to 140 cm of snow now overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar exists at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 100 to 160 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 120 to 180 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another weak layer, which has recently produced very large, destructive avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that choosing simple terrain free of overhead hazard is the best avoidance strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Wednesday night's warm temperatures and fluctuating freezing levels brought light cover of new snow (5 cm) and 15 mm of rain up to 1700 m, with deeper snow accumulations at higher elevations. A temperature drop during the day on Thursday has formed a new surface crust up to 1700 m, and winds have redistributed the new snow at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface two more crusts that formed late January and early February and are now buried 20-40 cm below 1700 m in the Fernie area. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and a sun crust on solar aspects and is 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the base of the snowpack.</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">Wednesday storm has delivered another 15-30 cm of snow bring storm snow totals to 40-80 cm over the past week. The distribution of this new snow is highly variable. The western parts of the region in BC were relatively warm with less snow, while areas in Alberta and around the divide were much colder and windier.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with a number of concerning weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects is now 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 70-90 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snow surfaces vary from aspect to elevation showing crusts, wind pressed and scoured conditions. In the alpine 5-15 cm of recent snow, accompanied by strong winds from the southeast have formed reactive wind slabs in leeward terrain and large looming cornices exist, they are fragile and demand respect. Treeline and below treeline elevations a melt-freeze crust has formed.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An average of 170 cm of settled snow now sits on the mid-January crust which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to &quot;wake-up&quot; with a large trigger such as a cornice fall. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snowfall totals are highly variable. In the south, up to 40 cm of new snow fell bringing the alpine totals up to 60 cm since the weekend. In the north, new snow totals are half that and rapidly decreasing below 1800m. This new snow sits on old wind slabs in alpine locations and has buried a crust at treeline. At lower treeline and below elevations, warm temperatures and rain have saturated the upper snowpack. A solid surface crust will likely form with forecast cooler temperatures. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This new snow adds to the 80-150 cm mid pack that sits above the mid- January crust, which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, I would remain suspect of this deeper layer as the snowpack adjusts to the new load. Large, looming cornices exist, they are fragile and demand respect. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wednesday's storm delivered another 30-50 cm of new snow, and a mix of rain and freezing rain for areas west of Terrace, bringing storm snow totals of over 100 cm in the last 10 or 12 days for the Terrace area. Northern areas have seen about 50-70 cm of recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Beneath the storm snow lies a 5-20 cm thick crust that was buried early February and can be found 60-110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 120-150 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern as well. They are buried over 150 cm below the surface, but may still be triggerable from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wednesday's storm delivered between 15-50 cm of new snow totals to 40-100 cm since last Thursday with areas near Smithers and south seeing higher snowfall amounts than areas to the north. This storm snow seems to have formed a well settled upper snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. Recent snowpack tests produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern to watch for.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 100-150 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25-70 cm of new snow fell during Wednesday's storm. In some areas this buried a new layer of surface hoar present on all aspects and elevations. The new snow adds to 100-200 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks, which sits on an unstable snowpack with four other active weak layers:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 150 to 270 cm of snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar was reported up to tree line elevations and possibly higher.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January weak layer is 170 to 300 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 200 cm or more below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for recent very large avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that choosing simple terrain free of overhead hazard is the best avoidance strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30-40 cm of new snow fell during Wednesday's storm. This adds to 50-100 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks that has formed a slab over an unstable snowpack. There are four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) Around 80 to 140 cm deep, you'll find a layer of crust and/or surface hoar that was buried in mid-January. The surface hoar is found at all elevation bands, and has been especially reactive on north through east aspects between 1900-2600 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January surface hoar layer is found 90 to 160 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is 120 to 200 cm deep. It has been most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another weak layer lingering near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Each of the above layers have maintained a trend of producing notable avalanche activity and concerning snowpack test results for the past couple of weeks. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that choosing simple terrain is the best avoidance strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snow accumulations vary showing 10-30 cm across the region adding more load and stress to the upper snowpack. This now brings 90-140 cm of settled snow over two surface hoar/ crust layers that were formed early to mid-January. Digging deeper 160-200 cm sits the mid-December surface hoar layer and near the base of the snowpack exists a crust/ facet interface which could be triggered by a large load like a step down avalanche or cornice failure.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">These persistent weak layers lurk within the snowpack and continue to be reactive, producing large and destructive avalanches. The snowpack is extremely complex and requires respect and diligence at this time.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snowpack has been rapidly loaded with 30-40cm of snow.  This is dramatically compounded by the fact that wind was associated with this storm which translates to wind loaded pockets in the alpine and in lee features.  Expect this additional load of new snow and wind deposited snow to have a great effect on the buried weak layers.  This will mean that whatever slope that has not slid, will be primed for </span><span class="s_2823317B">HUMAN TRIGGERING</span><span class="s_AA239A9B"> and will likely step down to a deeper layer creating large avalanches.  These weak layers that we have been talking about for a long time are primed for avalanching and are found at the following depths:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">-Jan 18 surface hoar approx. 130cm down from the surface</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">-January 6 surface hoar approx. 150cm down from the surface and</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">-December 15 interface approx 180cm down from the surface</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">-November crusts approx.  210cm down from the surface</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_1681A555">Rain over the past few days has saturated snow surfaces and only higher alpine elevations were lucky enough to get snow. With a forecast cooling trend, the upper snowpack will likely lock up as a firm crust. The average snowpack depth at treeline is 300 cm of well settled snow with no significant layers of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent accumulations of 30-40 cm have formed reactive new storm slabs on the surface throughout the region. 130-240 cm storm snow totals from the past two weeks have now consolidated into a deep slab over four active weak layers:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 130 to 240 cm of storm snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is widespread, with the exception of high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar was reported up to tree line and possibly higher. This layer is our primary weak layer of concern.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 160 to 260 cm deep. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 170 to 280 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for recent very large avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that choosing simple terrain free of overhead hazard is the best avoidance strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent accumulations of 20-30 cm have formed reactive new storm slabs on the surface throughout the region,</span><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">burying pre-existing storm and wind slabs. Collectively, this storm snow overlies a complex and generally weak snowpack structure with four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 90 to 140 cm of snow now overlies a crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is reportedly widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar exists at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January persistent weak layer is 100 to 160 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 120 to 180 cm deep. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another weak layer, which has recently produced very large, destructive avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that choosing simple terrain free of overhead hazard is the best avoidance strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Wednesday night's warm temperatures and fluctuating freezing levels brought light cover of new snow (5 cm) and 15 mm of rain up to 1700 m, with deeper snow accumulations at higher elevations. A temperature drop during the day on Thursday has formed a new surface crust up to 1700 m, and winds have redistributed the new snow (5-14 cm into Friday) at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface two more crusts that formed late January and early February and are now buried 20-40 cm below 1700 m in the Fernie area. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and a sun crust on solar aspects and is 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the base of the snowpack.</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">We've seen 20-40cm of snow fall in the past two days, bringing storm snow totals to 50-90 cm over the past week. The distribution of this new snow is highly variable. The western parts of the region in BC were relatively warm with less snow, while areas in Alberta and around the divide were much colder and windier, with Thursday's overnight temperatures of -25 Celsius near Castle mountain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with a number of concerning weak layers. A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects is now 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 70-90 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snow surfaces vary from aspect to elevation showing crusts, wind pressed and scoured conditions. In the alpine 5-15 cm of recent snow, accompanied by strong winds from the southeast have formed reactive wind slabs up to 30 cm thick in leeward terrain. Large, fragile cornices exist on ridgelines and could trigger an avalanche on the slope below if they fail. Treeline and below treeline elevations a melt-freeze crust has formed.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On average 180 cm of settled snow now sits on the mid-January crust which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to &quot;wake-up&quot; with a large trigger such as a cornice fall. Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snowfall totals are highly variable. In the south, up to 40 cm of new snow fell bringing the alpine totals up to 60 cm this week. In the north, new snow totals are half that and rapidly decreasing below 1800m. This new snow sits on old wind slabs in alpine locations and has buried a crust at treeline. At lower treeline and below elevations, warm temperatures and rain have saturated the upper snowpack. A solid surface crust will likely form with forecast cooler temperatures.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the surface, 80-150 cm down in the mid pack sits the mid- January crust. It generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, I would remain suspect of this deeper layer while the snowpack adjusts to the new load. Thinner snowpack areas may have a higher likelihood of&nbsp; an avalanche failing on this layer. Large, looming cornices exist, they are fragile and demand respect.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wednesday's storm delivered another 30-50 cm of new snow, and a mix of rain and freezing rain for areas west of Terrace, bringing storm snow totals of over 100 cm in the last 10 or 12 days for the Terrace area. Northern areas have seen about 50-70 cm of recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Beneath the storm snow lies a 5-20 cm thick crust that was buried early February and can be found 60-110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 120-150 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at treeline and below. This layer produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern as well. They are buried over 150 cm below the surface, but may still be triggerable from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wednesday's storm delivered between 15-50 cm of new snow, bringing totals to 40-100 cm over the past week. Areas near Smithers and farther south saw higher snowfall amounts than areas to the north. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and treeline elevations. Recent snowpack tests produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern to watch for.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 100-150 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent accumulations of 25-70 cm have formed reactive new storm slabs on the surface throughout the region.</span><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">In some areas the new snow has buried a new layer of surface hoar. About 150-250 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks now overlies an unstable snowpack with four other active weak layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) 150 to 250 cm of snow sits on the crust and/or surface hoar layer from mid-January. The crust is widespread, except for possibly high elevation north aspects. The surface hoar was reported up to tree line elevations and possibly higher.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) The early-January weak layer is 170 to 270 cm below the surface. It is composed of surface hoar on sheltered slopes as well as sun crust on steep solar aspects and is found at all elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is buried 200 cm or more below the surface. It is most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another failure plane responsible for recent very large avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that choosing simple terrain free of overhead hazard is the best avoidance strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent accumulations of 30-40 cm have formed reactive new storm slabs on the surface throughout the region. This adds to 50-100 cm of storm snow from the past two weeks that has settled into a thick slab over an unstable snowpack. There are four active weak layers that we are monitoring:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) Around 80 to 140 cm deep, you'll find a layer of crust and/or surface hoar that was buried in mid-January. The surface hoar is found at all elevations and has been especially reactive on north through east aspects between 1900-2600 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) Deeper in the snowpack, the early-January surface hoar layer is found 90 to 160 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">3) Another weak layer buried mid-December consists of a facet/surface hoar/crust combination, which is 120 to 200 cm deep. It has been most problematic at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">4) A crust/facet layer from late November is yet another weak layer lingering near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Each of the above layers have maintained a trend of producing notable avalanche activity and concerning snowpack test results for the past couple of weeks. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that choosing simple terrain is the best avoidance strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow accumulations vary, showing 10-45cm across the region at upper elevations. Below 1800 m a surface crust exists. The new snow in the alpine has been redistributed to leeward slopes from strong northwest winds. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This now brings 1- 2 m of settled snow sitting on three significant surface hoar/ crust layers that were formed early to mid-January, and back in December. Near the base of the snowpack a crust/ facet interface exists and will likely haunt us all season. These persistent weak layers that lurk within the snowpack are reactive, producing large and destructive avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is extremely complex and requires respect and diligence at this time.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Solar radiation played a big role on friday as the sun is beginning to have enough punch to begin to make the snow moist on steep solar aspects later in the day.  The solar input triggerred rapid settlement and avalanche activity up to sz 3 on solar aspects.  We are still dealing with a complex, reactive snowpack at this time.  Wind slabs in the upper snowpack as well as the deep persistent problems are our major concerns at this time.  The recent snow is overloading the myriad of weak layers that we currently have within the snowpack and causing widespread large destructive avalanches.  Many of the weak layers are 100-150cm deep so evaluating them in field tests is challenging.  This weekend will be a good time to stay out of avalanche terrain and minimize your exposure to overhead hazards.  </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Rain over the past few days has saturated snow surfaces and only higher alpine elevations were lucky enough to get snow. With forecast cold temperatures, the upper snowpack will likely lock up as a firm crust. The average snowpack depth at treeline is 300 cm of well settled snow with no significant layers of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Large cornices are looming. Moderate north to north-westerly winds have shifted 30-40 cm recent storm snow into wind slabs on lee slopes. This adds to an existing storm slab 1-2.5 m deep from the last couple of weeks accumulation. Some solar effect was observed on Friday and sun crusts or moist snow may be found, depending on the time of day.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating the recent load. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm recent storm snow may have been shifted into wind slabs on slopes lee to recent south-west through north-west winds. Fragile cornices can be found in some areas. Sun crusts or moist snow may be found on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating the recent load. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow totals from last week vary from 5-20cm above 1700m, thanks to redistribution from north east through to more recent south west winds. Below 1700m, rain on Wednesday formed a thick crust and capped the snow pack. That said, avalanche hazard remains elevated below tree line due to the possibility of large avalanches running full path from higher elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A layer buried mid January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and a sun crust on solar aspects and is 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early January is 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that several weak layers are still active and deserve a lot of respect. The solution is to stick to conservative terrain while avoiding all overhead hazard. </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">20-40cm of snow fell on Wednesday into Thursday, bringing storm snow totals to 50-90 cm over the past week. The distribution of this new snow is highly variable. The western parts of the region in BC were relatively warm with less snow, while areas in Alberta and around the divide were much colder and windier. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with a number of concerns: A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects is now 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 70-90 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that several weak layers are still active and deserve a lot of respect. The solution is to stick to conservative terrain while avoiding all overhead hazard. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snow surfaces vary from aspect to elevation showing crusts, wind pressed and scoured conditions. In the alpine 5-15 cm of recent snow, accompanied by strong winds from the southeast have formed reactive wind slabs up to 30 cm thick in leeward terrain, while wind-protected areas still hold unconsolidated, cold snow. At treeline and below treeline elevations a melt-freeze crust has formed up to 1900 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On average 180 cm of settled snow now sits on the mid-January crust which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to &quot;wake-up&quot; with a large trigger such as a cornice fall. Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snowfall totals are highly variable. In the south, up to 40 cm of new snow fell bringing the alpine totals up to 60 cm this week. In the north, new snow totals are half that and rapidly decrease below 1800m. This new snow remains unconsolidated in wind-sheltered, shaded areas at upper elevations but has formed wind slabs in open areas at treeline and above, and scoured areas at ridge crests..  At lower elevations 5-10 cm of new snow covers a thick crust, while a surface crust is present on solar aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, 80-150 cm down in the mid pack sits the mid- January crust. It generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, I would remain suspect of this deeper layer while the snowpack adjusts to the new load. Thinner snowpack areas may have a higher likelihood of an avalanche failing on this layer. Large, looming cornices exist, they are fragile and demand respect.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong north west winds picked up on Saturday, redistributing last week's storm snow and creating fresh wind slabs at higher elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wednesday's storm delivered another 30-50 cm of new snow, and a mix of rain and freezing rain for areas west of Terrace, bringing storm snow totals of over 100 cm in the last 2 weeks for the Terrace area. Northern areas have seen about 50-70 cm of recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Beneath the storm snow lies a 5-20 cm thick crust that was buried early February and can be found 60-110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 120-150 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at tree line and below. This layer produced a few human triggered avalanches throughout the region over the past week, and may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 150 cm below the surface, but could still be reactive and triggered from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong north west winds picked up on Saturday, redistributing last week's storm snow and creating fresh wind slabs at higher elevations. A strong inversion also set up with tree line temperatures near 0 degrees.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wednesday's storm delivered between 15-50 cm of new snow, bringing totals to 40-100 cm over the past week. Areas near Smithers and farther south saw higher snowfall amounts than areas to the north. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and tree ine elevations. Recent snowpack tests produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern to watch for.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 100-150 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong north to north-westerly winds have shifted 25-70 cm recent storm snow into wind slabs on lee slopes. This adds to an existing storm slab up to 1-2.5 m deep from the last couple of weeks accumulation. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating the recent load. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong north to north-westerly winds have loaded lee slopes with 30-40 cm recent storm snow. This adds to an existing storm slab up to 1m deep from the last couple of weeks accumulation. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating the recent load. In the top 1-1.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. The shallower of the two has been particularly reactive on north to east aspects above 1900 m, but expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (120-200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span><span class="s_E6FD2046" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow accumulations from the past week vary from 10-45cm across the region at upper elevations. In the alpine this new snow has been redistributed to leeward slopes from strong northwest winds. Below 1800 m, up to 5 cm of low density snow covers a thin crust. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This now brings 1- 2 m of settled snow sitting on three significant surface hoar/ crust layers that were formed early to mid-January, and back in December. Near the base of the snowpack a crust/ facet interface exists and will likely haunt us all season. These persistent weak layers that lurk within the snowpack are reactive, producing large and destructive avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is extremely complex and requires respect and diligence at this time.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Winds and temperatures are causing the upper snowpack to settle.  As it settles we are beginning to see natural avalanche activity begin to decrease but conditions are perfect for human triggerring.  Wind slabs should be expected in the upper snowpack in the Alpine and isolated areas at treeline.  These slabs are up to 40cm thick and on all aspects due to reverse loading.  Any slab that initiates in the upper snowpack is likely to step down to any one of the lower wear layers.  These layers include the Jan 18th and 6th surface hoar layers down being found below 2400m down around 1m+ and the Dec15th facet interface down 150cm being found all the way up and into the alpine.  Stick to conservative terrain and minimize your exposure to overhead areas.  </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Rain over the past few days has saturated snow surfaces and only higher alpine elevations were lucky enough to receive a light cover of new snow. With the arrival of cold temperatures, the upper snowpack has locked up as a firm crust. The average snowpack depth at treeline is 300 cm of well settled snow with no significant layers of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Large cornices may be found. Moderate north to north-westerly winds have shifted 30-40 cm recent storm snow into wind slabs on lee slopes. This adds to an existing storm slab 1-2.5 m deep from the last couple of weeks accumulation. Sun crusts or moist snow may be found, depending on the time of day.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm recent storm snow may have been shifted into wind slabs on slopes lee to recent south-west through north-west winds. Fragile cornices can be found in some areas. Sun crusts or moist snow may be found on solar aspects and a firm or breakable temperature crust may be found below about 1700 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating the recent load. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow totals from last week vary from 5-20cm above 1700m, thanks to redistribution from north east through to more recent south west winds. Wind slabs up to 20cm thick have formed on down wind (lee) features higher up. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below 1700m, rain on Wednesday formed a thick crust and capped the snow pack. That said, avalanche hazard remains elevated below tree line due to the possibility of large avalanches running full path from higher elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A layer buried mid January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects (especially prominent from 1400-1900 m) and a sun crust on solar aspects and is 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early January is 90-110 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that several weak layers are still active and deserve a lot of respect. The solution is to stick to conservative terrain while avoiding all overhead hazard. </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">Temperatures cooled to -20 overnight at tree line and winds have been gusty (mostly north west to south west) throughout the weekend. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow totals from last week were 50-90 cm, and redistributed by winds (see above) at higher elevations. The western parts of the region in BC were relatively warm with less snow, while areas in Alberta and around the divide were much colder and windier. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with a number of concerns: A layer buried mid-January is composed of surface hoar on sheltered aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects is now 60-80 cm deep. Another surface hoar layer from early-January is buried 70-90 cm deep. A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Finally, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that several weak layers are still active and deserve a lot of respect. The solution is to stick to conservative terrain while avoiding all overhead hazard. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Highly variable snow surfaces exist. On south-facing alpine slopes, you're likely to find scoured crusty surfaces, while reactive wind slabs have built on lee slopes facing roughly north. A melt-freeze crust has formed up to about 1900 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On average, 180 cm of settled snow now sits on the mid-January crust which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to wake up with a large trigger such as a cornice fall. Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Last week's snowfall totals are highly variable. In the south, up to 40 cm of new snow fell bringing the alpine totals up to 60 cm for the storm ending last week. In the north, new snow totals are half that and rapidly decrease below 1800m. This new snow remains unconsolidated in wind-sheltered, shaded areas at upper elevations but has formed wind slabs in open areas at treeline and above, and scoured areas at ridge crests. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">At lower elevations travel is rugged and some are recommending ski crampons below tree line (!) </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, 80-150 cm down in the mid pack sits the mid- January crust. It generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, I would remain suspect of this deeper layer while the snowpack adjusts to the new load. Thinner snowpack areas may have a higher likelihood of an avalanche failing on this layer. Large, looming cornices exist, they are fragile and demand respect.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong north west winds picked up on Saturday, redistributing last week's storm snow and creating fresh wind slabs at higher elevations. By Sunday afternoon, winds had shifted to strong from the south east. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wednesday's storm delivered another 30-50 cm of new snow, and a mix of rain and freezing rain for areas west of Terrace. Northern areas have seen about 50-70 cm of recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Beneath the storm snow lies a 5-20 cm thick crust that was buried early February and can be found 60-110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 120-150 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at tree line and below. This layer may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 150 cm below the surface, but could still be reactive and triggered from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong north west winds picked up on Saturday, redistributing last week's storm snow and creating touchy wind slabs at higher elevations. A strong inversion also set up with tree line temperatures near 0 degrees and a thin crust formed on steep south facing slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wednesday's storm delivered between 15-50 cm of new snow, bringing totals to 40-100 cm over the past week. Areas near Smithers and farther south saw higher snowfall amounts than areas to the north. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and tree ine elevations. Recent snowpack tests produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern to watch for.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 100-150 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong north to north-westerly winds have shifted 25-70 cm recent storm snow into wind slabs on lee slopes. This adds to an existing storm slab that's 1-2.5 m deep from the last couple of weeks' accumulation. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong north to north-westerly winds have loaded lee slopes with 30-40 cm recent storm snow. This adds to an existing storm slab up to 1m deep from the last couple of weeks' accumulation. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1-1.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (120-200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow accumulations from the past week vary from 10-45cm across the region at upper elevations. In the alpine this new snow has been redistributed to leeward slopes from strong northwest winds. Fragile cornices may be found at ridge top. Below 1850 m, around 5 cm of low density snow covers a hard crust. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">This now brings 1- 2 m of settled snow sitting on three significant surface hoar/ crust layers that were formed early to mid-January, and back in December. Near the base of the snowpack a crust/ facet interface exists that will likely haunt us all season. These persistent weak layers that lurk within the snowpack are reactive, producing large and destructive avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is extremely complex and requires respect and diligence at this time.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The alpine has a variety of wind effect that goes into tree line. This wind effect is on all aspects. Natural activity has slowed down but conditions still look primed for human triggering. Any avalanche that is triggered has a high likelihood to step down to the persistent deep layers. These layers include the Jan 18th and 6th surface hoar layers down being found below 2400m down around 1m+ and the Dec15th facet interface down 150cm being found all the way up and into the alpine. Stick to conservative terrain and minimize your exposure to overhead areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Rain at the end of the week saturated snow surfaces and only higher alpine elevations were lucky enough to receive a light cover of new snow. With the arrival of cold temperatures, the upper snowpack has locked up as a firm crust. The average snowpack depth at treeline is 300 cm of well settled snow with no significant layers of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Winds have shifted 30-40 cm recent storm snow into wind slabs on lee slopes. Alpine and open treeline areas have seen variable wind-affect while a sun crust exists on solar aspects, and a rain crust is present below 1600 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60 cm recent storm snow may have been shifted into wind slabs on slopes lee to recent south-west through north-west winds. Sun crusts or moist snow may be found on solar aspects and a firm or breakable temperature crust may be found below about 1700 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating the recent load. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow totals from last week vary from 5-20cm above 1700m, thanks to redistribution from variable winds. Wind slabs up to 20cm thick have formed on down wind (lee) features higher up. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below 1700m, rain last Wednesday formed a thick crust and capped the snow pack. That said, avalanche hazard remains elevated below tree line due to the possibility of large avalanches running full path from higher elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A widespread weak layer from mid December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Also, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that several weak layers are still lurking in the snowpack and deserve a lot of respect. Conservative terrain use is recommended while avoiding all overhead hazard. </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">Temperatures cooled to -20 overnight at tree line and winds have been gusty (mostly north west to south west) throughout the weekend. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow totals from last week were 50-90 cm, and redistributed by winds (see above) at higher elevations. The western parts of the region in BC were relatively warm with less snow, while areas in Alberta and around the divide were much colder and windier. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with two main concerns: A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Second, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that weak layers are still active and deserve a lot of respect. The solution is to stick to conservative terrain while avoiding all overhead hazard. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Highly variable snow surfaces exist. On south-facing alpine slopes, you're likely to find scoured crusty surfaces, while reactive wind slabs have built on lee slopes facing roughly north. More recent northerly winds have expanded wind slab formation to a range of other aspects. A melt-freeze crust has formed up to about 1900 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On average, 180 cm of settled snow now sits on the mid-January crust which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to wake up with a large trigger such as a cornice fall. Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snowfall totals from last week are highly variable. In the south, up to 40 cm of new snow fell and brought alpine totals up to 60 cm for the storm ending last week. In the north, new snow totals are about half that and rapidly decrease below 1800m. This new snow remains unconsolidated in wind-sheltered, shaded areas at upper elevations but strong northerly winds have scoured windward ridge crests and formed wind slabs in open areas at treeline and above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, 80-150 cm down in the mid snowpack sits the mid-January crust. It generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, I would remain suspect of this deeper layer while the snowpack adjusts to the new load. Thinner snowpack areas may have a higher likelihood of an avalanche failing on this layer. Large, looming cornices exist, they are fragile and demand respect. Cornice falls are very effective triggers for avalanches on the slopes below them.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">At lower elevations, travel is rugged and some are recommending ski crampons below treeline.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong and variable winds occurred throughout the long weekend, redistributing last week's storm snow and creating fresh wind slabs at higher elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Beneath the storm snow lies a 5-20 cm thick crust that was buried early February and can be found 60-110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 120-150 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at tree line and below. This layer may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 150 cm below the surface, but could still be reactive and triggered from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong north / west winds blew throughout the long weekend, redistributing last week's storm snow and creating touchy wind slabs at higher elevations. A strong inversion also set up with tree line temperatures near 0 degrees and a thin crust formed on steep south facing slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Last week's storm delivered between 15-50 cm of new snow, bringing totals to 40-100 cm over the past week. Areas near Smithers and farther south saw higher snowfall amounts than areas to the north. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and tree line elevations. Snowpack tests produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern to watch for.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 100-150 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in recent large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong north to north-westerly winds have shifted 25-70 cm recent storm snow into wind slabs on lee slopes. Alpine and open treeline areas have seen extensive wind-affect, while a sun crust exists on solar aspects and a rain crust can be found below 1600 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong north to north-westerly winds have loaded lee slopes with 30-40 cm recent storm snow. Alpine and open treeline areas have seen extensive wind-affect from strong, northerly winds, while a sun-crust has formed on solar aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1-1.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find at least one of these layers on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (120-200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow accumulations from the past week vary from 10-45cm across the region at upper elevations. In the alpine this new snow has been redistributed to leeward slopes from strong northwest winds. Fragile cornices may be found at ridge top. Below 1850 m, around 5 cm of low density snow covers a hard crust. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">We now have 1- 2 m of settled snow sitting on three significant surface hoar/crust layers that were formed early to mid-January, and back in December. Near the base of the snowpack a crust/ facet interface exists that will likely haunt us all season. These persistent weak layers that lurk within the snowpack have produced large and destructive avalanches. Although this activity has been diminishing gradually, recent activity and continued sudden snowpack test results have kept them a top concern in the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The complex and widespread nature of our multiple overlapping persistent slab problems continues to demand respect and diligence from backcountry travelers in the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A profile at 2200m showed the Jan. 18 surface hoar layer is down 40cm, Jan 6 surface hoar layer is down 60cm and the Dec 15 facets is down 90cm.  The surface hoar layers(Jan 18 and Jan 6) are not producing any test results.  The Dec 15 facets layer was producing a hard compression test and was sudden planar in nature on loose facets.  The November crusts have turned into facets at this elevation.  The bottom 70cm of the snowpack consists of facets which is about half of the snow pack at this elevation.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The bigger concern is still for human triggering at tree line and in the alpine.  Tuesday is forecast for strong winds along with strong gusts; so I bet wherever there was no wind slab, there will be lots of it.  Stay tuned...</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">Rain at the end of the week saturated snow surfaces and only higher alpine elevations were lucky enough to receive a light cover of new snow. With the arrival of cold temperatures, the upper snowpack has locked up as a firm crust. Where new snow exists above the crust, it has been redistributed by recent strong southwest winds. The average snowpack depth at treeline is 300 cm of well settled snow with no significant layers of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Wednesday morning I would expect up to 30cm of new snow. Forecast strong ridgetop winds are expected to redistribute the new snow into much deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The new snow will overlie older wind slabs at higher elevations and a rain crust below 1600m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Wednesday morning I would expect up to 15cm of new snow. Forecast strong ridgetop winds are expected to redistribute the new snow into much deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The new snow will overlie older wind slabs in higher elevation terrain, and a melt-freeze crust below 1700m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating recent storm loads. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since the last snowfall almost a week ago, we've seen gusty winds (strong at times) from virtually all directions. The end result is wind slabs up to 20cm thick have formed on down wind (lee) features higher up, on a wide range of aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below 1700m, rain last Wednesday formed a thick crust and capped the snow pack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A widespread weak layer from mid December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Also, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that several weak layers are still lurking in the snowpack and they deserve a lot of respect. Conservative terrain use is recommended while avoiding all overhead hazard. </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">Wind has been the main weather story over the past few days, with gusts on Tuesday over 130 Km/ hr!</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The end result is extensive scouring on windward slopes (generally north and west facing slopes) and the creation of wind slabs on down wind (lee) features higher up, on a wide range of aspects.</span><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with two main concerns: A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Second, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that weak layers are still active and deserve a lot of respect. The solution is to stick to conservative terrain while avoiding all overhead hazard. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Increasing flurries are expected to bring about 15 cm of new snow to the region by Wednesday morning. Beneath the new snow, highly variable snow surfaces exist. From scoured crusty surfaces on south-facing alpine slopes to reactive wind slabs on lee slopes facing roughly north. More recent northerly winds have expanded wind slab formation to a range of other aspects and melt-freeze crust exists up to about 1900 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On average, 180 cm of settled snow now sits on the mid-January crust which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to wake up with a large trigger such as a cornice fall. Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">5-10 cm of new snow is expected to fall by Wednesday morning. The new snow is accumulating above unconsolidated recent storm snow in wind-sheltered, shaded areas at upper elevations as well as variably scoured and wind loaded slopes in exposed areas. The recent storm snow amounts to roughly 60 cm in the south of the region and about half this amount in the north of the region. Below about 1800 metres, the new snow will accumulate above a rain crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 80-150 cm down in the mid snowpack sits the mid-January crust. It generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow but will likely remain sensitive to large triggers - especially in thinner snowpack areas. Large, looming cornices exist, they are fragile, and they demand respect. Cornice falls are very effective triggers for avalanches on the slopes below them.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Phenomenal snowfall amounts occurred on Tuesday, with 40-50cm falling in a 12 hour period near Terrace! Combine that with strong north west winds and temperatures near zero... it's a perfect recipe for widespread large destructive avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">All this new snow sits on a wide array of surfaces - either wind scoured from strong and variable winds from the long weekend, or fresh wind slabs at higher elevations on lee (downwind) slopes. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Beneath the storm snow lies a 5-20 cm thick crust that was buried early February and can be found 60-110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 120-150 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at tree line and below. This layer may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 150 cm below the surface, but could still be reactive and triggered from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong winds from a wide range of directions (mostly northwesterly) have been blowing for the past several days, scouring some slopes and creating touchy wind slabs at tree line and above. Where the wind has not affected the snow, you'll find 30-50cm of settling storm snow from last week. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and tree line elevations. Snowpack tests produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern to watch for.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 100-150 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/54cdf214-c322-48d0-b9ae-647cd2650f6e" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">See here for a good summary of recent snowpack test results near Smithers.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Wednesday morning I would expect up to 30cm of new snow. Forecast strong ridgetop winds are expected to redistribute the new snow into much deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The new snow will overlie older wind slabs and a rain crust below 1600m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Wednesday morning I would expect up to 30cm of new snow. Forecast strong ridgetop winds are expected to redistribute the new snow into much deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1-1.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find at least one of these layers on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (120-200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 10 cm of new snow is expected to accumulate by Wednesday morning. Beneath the new snow, storm snow accumulations from the past week vary from 10-45cm across the region at upper elevations. In the alpine this new snow has been redistributed to leeward slopes from strong northwest winds. Fragile cornices may be found at ridge top. Below 1850 m, around 5 cm of low density snow covers a hard crust. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">We now have 1- 2 m of settled snow sitting on three significant surface hoar/crust layers that were formed early to mid-January, and back in December. Near the base of the snowpack a crust/ facet interface exists that will likely haunt us all season. These persistent weak layers that lurk within the snowpack have produced large and destructive avalanches. Although this activity has been diminishing gradually, recent activity and continued sudden snowpack test results have kept them a top concern in the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The complex and widespread nature of our multiple overlapping persistent slab problems continues to demand respect and diligence from backcountry travelers in the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong to extreme winds have stripped most of the available snow and formed stiff wind slabs on all lee aspects. The winds have come from west to north aspects which has made a reverse loading pattern. Luckily these areas are easily identified once seen. So far the alpine has been the most wind effected, but treeline also has widespread slabs. Even valley bottom areas have felt the winds. Many avalanche crowns from last week have filled in.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Increasing flurries are expected to bring about 20 cm of new snow to the region by Wednesday morning. Beneath the new snow, the upper snowpack at most elevations has locked up as a firm rain crust. In the high alpine, the new snow is accumulating over wind affected surfaces and thin wind slabs. It will take time for the new snow to form a solid bond with these varied surfaces - especially the rain crust. The average snowpack depth at treeline is 300 cm of well settled snow with no significant layers of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Wednesday morning up to 30cm of new snow had fallen. Strong winds shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Wednesday morning up to 15cm of new snow had fallen. I suspect moderate southwest winds shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating recent storm loads. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 20 cm of new storm snow overlies old wind slabs leeward slopes at treeline and above. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below 1700m, this new snow covers a rain crust from last Wednesday. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A widespread weak layer from mid December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Also, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that several weak layers are still lurking in the snowpack and they deserve a lot of respect. Conservative terrain use is recommended while avoiding all overhead hazard. </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">About 10-15 cm on new snow and strong to extreme winds have resulted in extensive scouring on windward slopes (generally north and west facing slopes) and the creation of wind slabs on down wind (lee) features higher up, on a wide range of aspects.</span><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with two main concerns: A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Second, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that weak layers are still active and deserve a lot of respect. The solution is to stick to conservative terrain while avoiding all overhead hazard. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of new snow sits above a variety of old surfaces, including scoured crusty surfaces on south-facing alpine slopes, old wind slabs on a range of aspects at high elevations, and a melt-freeze crust up to about 1900 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">On average, 180 cm of settled snow now sits on the mid-January crust which generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow; however, it has the potential to wake up with a large trigger such as a cornice fall. Below this, the snowpack is thought to be generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of new snow sits above a variety of old interfaces, including unconsolidated snow in sheltered areas, scoured and wind loaded snow in exposed areas, and a melt-freeze crust below roughly 1900 m. Storm snow amounts from the past week are roughly 60 cm in the south of the region and about half this amount in the north of the region. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 80-150 cm down in the mid snowpack sits the mid-January crust. It generally shows signs of bonding to the overlying snow but will likely remain sensitive to large triggers - especially in thinner snowpack areas. Large, looming cornices exist, they are fragile, and they demand respect. Cornice falls are very effective triggers for avalanches on the slopes below them.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 40-60 cm of new snow has fallen across the region since Tuesday with the highest snowfall amounts in the Terrace area.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">This new snow sits on a wide array of surfaces - including wind scoured from strong and variable winds during the long weekend, and fresh wind slabs at higher elevations on lee (downwind) slopes as well as facets and surface hoar in sheltered locations at treeline and below, and suncrusts on steep solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A 5-20 cm thick crust that was buried early February and can be found 60-110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer buried in mid-January is 120-150 cm below the surface and remains a concern. In most areas this layer is a crust, but it may also be surface hoar in sheltered areas at tree line and below. This layer may remain reactive as it adjusts to the weight of the new snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), deeper crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December and early January may still be a concern. They are buried over 150 cm below the surface, but could still be reactive and triggered from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 10-20 cm of new snow and strong winds from a wide range of directions (mostly northwesterly) have scoured some slopes and created touchy wind slabs at tree line and above. Where the wind has not affected the snow, you'll find 50-80cm of recent storm snow from the past week. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and tree line elevations. Snowpack tests produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern to watch for.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 100-150 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/54cdf214-c322-48d0-b9ae-647cd2650f6e" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">See here for a good summary of recent snowpack test results near Smithers.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Wednesday morning up to 37cm of new snow had fallen. Wind data has been sparse, although I suspect strong winds shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Wednesday morning up to 25cm of new snow had fallen. Wind data has been sparse, although I suspect strong winds shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1-1.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find at least one of these layers on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (120-200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-30 cm of fresh snow has formed thin reactive slabs. The snow sits above a hard crust below 1800 m and on steep south-facing slopes. In alpine terrain, the new snow has buried older wind slabs that may still be reactive in isolated areas. Fragile cornices may be found at ridgetop. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">We now have 1- 2 m of settled snow sitting on three significant surface hoar/crust layers that were formed early to mid-January, and back in December. Near the base of the snowpack a crust/facet interface exists that will likely haunt us all season. These persistent weak layers that lurk within the snowpack have produced large and destructive avalanches. Although this activity has been diminishing gradually, recent activity and continued sudden snowpack test results have kept them a top concern in the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The complex and widespread nature of our multiple overlapping persistent slab problems continues to demand respect and diligence from backcountry travelers in the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We had 5-10cm of snow last night near the divide. The snow came in on the tail end of the wind storm, so many alpine windslabs may be slightly buried on lee aspects. At all other elevations, the fresh wind slabs are still evident and slightly less reactive than yesterday. Unsupported terrain at treeline will be more prone to wind slab failures. As of 3pm this afternoon the latest pulse of snow has laid down about 3-5cm.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-25 cm of storm snow sits above a hard rain crust at most elevations and above firm wind affected snow in the high alpine. It will take time for the new snow to form a solid bond with these varied surfaces - especially the rain crust. The average snowpack depth at treeline is 300 cm of well settled snow with no significant layers of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30cm of recent storm snow has settled into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the northwest, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">By Wednesday morning up to 15cm of new snow had fallen. I suspect moderate southwest winds shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating recent storm loads. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 30-40 cm of new storm snow and wind have created wind slabs at upper elevations.  This new snow overlies old wind slabs on leeward slopes at treeline and above, and a mix of surface hoar, facets and sun crusts on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below 1700m, the new snow covers a rain crust from last Wednesday. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A widespread weak layer from mid December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Also, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that several weak layers are still lurking in the snowpack and they deserve a lot of respect. Conservative terrain use is recommended while avoiding all overhead hazard. </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">About 20-30 cm on new snow and winds have led to the creation of wind slabs on leeward features at upper elevations on a wide range of aspects.</span><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In sheltered areas near treeline and below, these slabs overly a layer of surface hoar buried mid-February that has produced very easy, sudden results in recent snowpack tests.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak, with two main concerns: A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 100-150 cm deep. Second, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November is near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that weak layers are still active and deserve a lot of respect. The solution is to stick to conservative terrain and avoid overhead hazard. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-20 cm of light snow sits above a variety of old surfaces, including scoured crusty surfaces on south-facing alpine slopes, a melt-freeze crust up to about 1900 m, and old wind slabs on a range of aspects at high elevations. The mid-January crust is now buried beneath 150-200 cm of settled snow, but a heavy trigger such as a cornice fall could potentially wake up this layer. The lower snowpack is generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Southern parts of the region are expecting heavy snowfall on Friday and Saturday, likely forming fresh storm slabs as snow accumulates. Northern parts of the region are getting lighter amounts, so fresh slab development will primarily occur in wind-affected terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A few interfaces buried 10-20 cm below the most recent snow could potentially support wide propagations in the fresh storm/wind slabs. These include scoured crusty surfaces on south-facing alpine slopes, a melt-freeze crust up to about 1900 m, and old wind slabs on a range of aspects at high elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-January crust is now buried beneath 80-150 cm of settled snow and may remain sensitive to large triggers - especially in thinner snowpack areas in the north part of the region. Large, looming cornices exist, they are fragile, and they demand respect. Cornice falls are very effective triggers for avalanches on the slopes below them.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 40-60 cm of new snow has fallen across the region since Tuesday with the highest snowfall amounts in the Terrace area.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">This new snow sits on a wide array of surfaces - including wind scoured from strong and variable winds during the long weekend, and fresh wind slabs at higher elevations on lee (downwind) slopes, as well as facets and surface hoar in sheltered locations at treeline and below, and suncrusts on steep solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Also a 5-20 cm thick crust/surface hoar layer that was buried early February and can be found 60-110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), a deeper crust / surface hoar layer that was buried in mid-January in sheltered areas at treeline and below could still be a concern for triggering from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 10-20 cm of new snow and strong winds from a wide range of directions (mostly northwesterly) have scoured some slopes and created wind slabs up to 50 cm thick at tree line and above. In areas sheltered from the wind, you'll find 40-70cm of recent storm snow from the past week. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and tree line elevations. Snowpack tests produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern to watch for.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 100-150 cm below the surface. These layers produced sudden results in snowpack tests and have been the suspected weak layer in large remotely (from a distance) triggered avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/54cdf214-c322-48d0-b9ae-647cd2650f6e" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">See here for a good summary of recent snowpack test results near Smithers.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">35cm of recent storm snow has settled into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the northwest, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25cm of recent storm snow is settling into a slab in the upper snowpack. Wind data has been sparse, although I suspect strong winds have shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1-1.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find at least one of these layers on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (120-200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Fresh slabs will grow with the incoming storms. A few interfaces buried 20-30 cm below the most recent snow could potentially support wide propagations in the fresh storm/wind slabs. This includes sun crusts on steep south-facing slopes, a rain crust below 1800 m, small surface hoar in isolated areas, and hard wind slabs at upper elevations. Fragile cornices may be found at ridgetop. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">We now have 1-2 m of settled snow sitting on three significant surface hoar/crust layers that were formed early to mid-January, and back in December. Near the base of the snowpack a crust/facet interface exists that will likely haunt us all season. These persistent weak layers that lurk within the snowpack have produced large and destructive avalanches. Although this activity has been diminishing gradually, recent activity and continued sudden snowpack test results have kept them a top concern in the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The complex and widespread nature of our multiple overlapping persistent slab problems continues to demand respect and diligence from backcountry travelers in the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Our heavy snowfall warning fizzled out and only left 5cm behind. For the moment, this snow remains untouched by the winds. Expect that to change as the winds pick up this evening. The alpine is widespread windslabs or exposed gravel ridges. Treeline has a widespread windslab that is stiff and poorly bonded to the layer underneath. This slab is only 5-10cm thick so it doesn't present a huge  problem, unless a terrain trap is involved. A treeline profile today had the Jan 6th layer down 110cm and the dec 15 layer down 130cm. Neither layer reacted in tests at this location. This suggests the snowpack is &quot;healing&quot;, but we'd like to look at more sites before saying the snowpack is improving.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow is accumulating above a hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain. By Friday afternoon there could be 30 cm of snow above the crust, enough to make reactive slabs in steep terrain. Deeper wind deposits are likely in alpine terrain. The average snow depth at treeline is 300 cm, with no layers of concern in the lower snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-40 cm of recent storm snow has settled into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the northwest, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow totals are 10-20cm. I suspect moderate south west through north west winds shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating recent storm loads. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 30-50 cm of recent storm snow and wind have created wind slabs at upper elevations. This new snow overlies old wind slabs on leeward slopes at treeline and above, as well as sun crusts on solar aspects and a mix of surface hoar and facets in sheltered areas at near treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below 1700m, this new snow covers a rain crust that was buried on February 8th.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A widespread weak layer from mid December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Also, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that several weak layers are still lurking in the snowpack and they deserve a lot of respect. Conservative terrain use is recommended while avoiding overhead hazard. </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">About 20-40 cm on new snow and winds have led to the creation of wind slabs on leeward features at upper elevations on a wide range of aspects.</span><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In sheltered areas near treeline and below, these slabs overly a layer of surface hoar buried mid-February that has produced very easy, sudden results in recent snowpack tests.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak with two main concerns; a widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep, and second, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that weak layers are still active and deserve a lot of respect. The solution is to stick to conservative terrain and avoid overhead hazard. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-30 cm of new snow is expected to form fresh storm slabs on Saturday. The new snow is burying hard wind-affected snow in exposed terrain, a hard crust below 1900 m, and a sun crust on south-facing alpine slopes. The mid-January crust is now buried beneath 150-200 cm of settled snow, but a heavy trigger such as a cornice fall could potentially wake up this layer. The lower snowpack is generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Southern parts of the region are expecting heavy snowfall on Saturday and forming fresh storm slabs as snow accumulates. Northern parts of the region are getting lighter amounts, so fresh slab development will primarily occur in wind-affected terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A few interfaces buried below the most recent snow could potentially support wide propagations in the fresh storm/wind slabs. These include scoured crusty surfaces on south-facing alpine slopes, a melt-freeze crust up to about 1900 m, and old wind slabs on a range of aspects at high elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-January crust is now buried beneath 80-150 cm of settled snow and may remain sensitive to large triggers - especially in thinner snowpack areas in the north part of the region. Large, looming cornices exist, they are fragile, and they demand respect. Cornice falls are very effective triggers for avalanches on the slopes below them.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 40-60 cm of recent storm snow has fallen across the region since Tuesday with the highest snowfall amounts in the Terrace area.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">This new snow sits on a wide array of surfaces - including wind scour and old wind slabs at higher elevations on lee (downwind) slopes, as well as sun crusts on steep solar aspects and facets and surface hoar in sheltered locations at treeline and below. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Also, a 5-20 cm thick crust/surface hoar layer that was buried early February and can be found 60-110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), a deeper crust / surface hoar layer that was buried in mid-January in sheltered areas at treeline and below could still be a concern for triggering from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Winds (mostly northwesterly) have scoured wind-exposed slopes and created wind slabs up to 50 cm thick on leeward slopes at tree line and above. In areas sheltered from the wind, you'll find 30-50 cm of settled storm snow. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and tree line elevations. Snowpack tests produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern to watch for.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 100-150 cm below the surface. These layers have produced sudden results in recent snowpack tests and may still be sensitive to triggering from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/54cdf214-c322-48d0-b9ae-647cd2650f6e" target="_blank"><span class="s_9255B882">See here for a good summary of recent snowpack test results near Smithers.</span></a><span class="s_AA239A9B"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">35cm of recent storm snow is settling into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the northwest, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow has been accumulating for a few days. Saturday's storm is expected to deliver 20-40 cm on top of the 20-30 cm from the past few days. All this new snow is sitting above an interface that could favour wide propagations in the storm snow. The interfaces include sun crusts on steep south-facing slopes, a rain crust below 1800 m and small surface hoar in isolated areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">We now have 1-2 m of settled snow sitting on three significant surface hoar/crust layers that were formed early to mid-January, and back in December. Near the base of the snowpack a crust/facet interface exists that will likely haunt us all season. These layers produced large destructive avalanches on a regular basis up until last weekend. Avalanche activity on these layers has gradually diminished, but the persistent slab problem still demands respect and diligence.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Light flurries throughout the day and overnight but only close to 5cm of accumulations.  Moderate westerly winds continued building on the windslabs that previously existed.  Alpine areas have extensive windslabs from the strong winds earlier in the week.  Its not uncommon to find a drummy feeling as you approach more open terrain.  At treeline the windslabs are more specific in nature such as along ridgelines and in gullies.  A few prominent weak layers still exist at the base of the snowpack.  The Dec 15th interface down 140cm and the January surface hoar layers down 100cm.  Test resulst are still in the hard rnage on these layers but they are highly variable.  Use caution in any areas that have not previously slid and minimize your exposure to overhead terrain. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow is accumulating above a hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain. Reports indicate the snow is poorly bonded to the crust. By Saturday afternoon, storm slabs will likely be over 50 cm thick and become very touchy. There are no significant layers of concern below the crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-40 cm of recent storm snow has settled into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north / east, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow totals are 10-20cm with more in the very south of the region: </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Dial back your terrain use if you are seeing more than 25 cm of new snow in your location. </span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate south west through north west winds shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The recent snow sits on a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating recent storm loads. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 40-60 cm of recent storm snow and wind have created storm slabs at upper elevations. This overlies old wind slabs on leeward slopes at treeline and above, as well as sun crusts on solar aspects and a mix of surface hoar and facets in sheltered areas near treeline. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below 1700m, this new snow covers a rain crust that was buried on February 8th.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">For the past month there has been regular avalanche activity on multiple weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack. A widespread weak layer from mid December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Also, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The take home message is that several weak layers are still lurking in the snowpack and they deserve a lot of respect. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 20-40 cm on new snow and winds have led to the creation of wind slabs on leeward features at upper elevations on a wide range of aspects.</span><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In sheltered areas near treeline and below, these slabs overly a layer of surface hoar buried mid-February that has produced very easy, sudden results in recent snowpack tests.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak with two main concerns; a widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep, and second, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November near the bottom of the snowpack. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</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">25-40 cm of fresh snow sits above variable interfaces including hard wind-affected snow in exposed terrain, a hard crust below 1900 m, and a sun crust on south-facing alpine slopes. Deeper deposits of storm snow exist in lee and cross-loaded alpine terrain. The mid-January crust is now buried beneath 150-200 cm of settled snow, but a heavy trigger such as a cornice fall could potentially wake up this layer. The lower snowpack is generally strong and well-settled.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Saturday's storm delivered ample snow to the region, with the Duffey area receiving at least 30 cm and Coquihalla receiving 40-50 cm. To the north, the storm snow is primarily low density with the exception of exposed terrain where wind has formed slabs. To the south, the snow is likely denser and formed a more widespread slab.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A few interfaces buried last week could potentially support wide propagations in the storm slabs. These include scoured crusty surfaces on south-facing alpine slopes, a melt-freeze crust up to 1700-1900 m, and hard wind damaged snow in exposed terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-January crust is now buried beneath 80-150 cm of settled snow and may remain sensitive to large triggers - especially in thinner snowpack areas in the north part of the region. Large, looming cornices exist, they are fragile, and they demand respect. Cornice falls are very effective triggers for avalanches on the slopes below them.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Approximately 40-60 cm of recent storm snow has fallen across the region since Tuesday with the highest snowfall amounts in the Terrace area.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">This new snow sits on a wide array of surfaces - including wind scour and old wind slabs at higher elevations on lee (downwind) slopes, as well as sun crusts on steep solar aspects and facets and surface hoar in sheltered locations at treeline and below. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Also, a 5-20 cm thick crust/surface hoar layer that was buried early February and can be found 60-110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to 1400 m. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In thinner snowpack areas (north and inland), a deeper crust / surface hoar layer that was buried in mid-January in sheltered areas at treeline and below could still be a concern for triggering from shallow spots.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Winds (mostly northwesterly) have scoured wind-exposed slopes and created stiff wind slabs on leeward slopes at tree line and above. In areas sheltered from the wind, you can still find 30-50 cm of settled storm snow. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A crust and/or weak feathery surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in the lower alpine and tree line elevations. Snowpack tests produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern to watch for.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Another two crust / surface hoar layers that were buried in December are now 100-150 cm below the surface and may still be sensitive to triggering from 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_3FE45715">35cm of recent storm snow is settling into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north / east, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The more recent snow sits on a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Saturday's storm delivered 20-40 cm of low density snow, except for pockets with soft slabs in exposed terrain. A total of 30-50 cm of snow sits above an interface that could favour wide propagations once the snow settles. The interfaces include sun crusts on steep south-facing slopes, a rain crust below 1800 m and small surface hoar in isolated areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">We now have 1-2 m of settled snow sitting on three significant surface hoar/crust layers that were formed early to mid-January, and back in December. Near the base of the snowpack a crust/facet interface exists that will likely haunt us all season. These layers produced large destructive avalanches on a regular basis up until last weekend. Avalanche activity on these layers has gradually diminished, but the persistent slab problem still demands respect and diligence.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-13cm of recent snow at treeline and above has helped to freshen up the skiing.  Windlslabs are being found on all aspects in the alpine due to westerly and now northerly flow.  These slabs had a drummy cakey feel that had us give them a wide berth.  Despite the strong winds, these slabs do not appear to extend far downslope but the forecasting team was only in a treeline feature on Saturday.  We expect them to be more widespread in the alpine.  Deeper in the snowpack the Jan 6th Sh layer was found at 2400m down 120cm.  Tests are producing hard sudden planar results on this interface indicating that if you do cause a failure in the wrong spot, expect a large desctructive avalanche.  </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent snowfall has buried a hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain. The crust is now roughly 40 cm below the surface, and reports suggest the snow will take several days to bond to the crust. The result is a very touchy storm slab above the crust. There are no significant layers of concern below the crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow has settled into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north / east, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow totals are 15-30 cm with more in the very south of the region near Kimberley, where totals are closer to 50 cm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate south west through north west winds shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The recent snow sits on a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating recent storm loads. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 50-80 cm of recent snow has created storm slabs. The snow fell with strong variable winds, creating wind slabs in direct lee features on all aspects. This overlies a surface hoar layer and a melt-freeze crust buried mid-February up to 1800 m, and old wind slabs and a sun crust at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Also, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack. There has been regular avalanche activity on these layers over the past month. If triggered, they could produce large, destructive avalanches with high consequences.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30-60 cm of storm snow with strong winds have created widespread loose dry and storm slab avalanche problems.  Some of this snow has been re-distributed with strong winds, creating wind slabs on lee features.  These slabs overly a layer of weak surface hoar buried mid-February that has produced very easy snowpack test results with sudden fracture characters.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak with two main concerns:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1)</span><span class="s_3324E81">     </span><span class="s_3FE45715">a widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2)</span><span class="s_3324E81">     </span><span class="s_3FE45715">a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November near the bottom of the snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In sheltered terrain, cold weather is preserving 30-40 cm of low density snow. In exposed terrain, strong north winds have scoured north facing slopes and loaded south facing slopes. A crust layer can be found beneath the storm snow on sun-exposed slopes and below 1900 m, which has supported some wide propagations in recent storm slab avalanches. Deeper in the snowpack, avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust. This layer is now 150-200 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (cornice?) or the next major storm could potentially wake up this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In sheltered terrain, cold weather is preserving low density snow from the recent storms. In exposed terrain, strong north and east winds have scoured windward slopes and loaded lee slopes. Storm totals from Saturday range from 30 cm in the Duffey area and other northern parts of the region, 50 cm around the Coquihalla, and 40 cm around Manning Park.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In southern parts of the region, the new snow sits above a widespread crust with well settled snow below the crust. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In northern parts of the region, avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust and are avoiding shallow rocky slopes where triggering this layer is most likely. This layer is now 80-150 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (cornice?) or the next major storm could potentially wake up this layer. Large cornices have also been reported in northern parts of the region, which may be an effective trigger for an avalanches on the slopes below them.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong northeast outflow winds have redistributed the 40-60 cm of snow that fell since Tuesday. The winds have produced touchy wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded features at all elevations </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/d38b7fd5-e696-48a0-bfa6-8fd0c543acbb" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">(as observed in this post</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/68f5aa90-2979-4e89-a781-2c5cd9ab7ce9" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">and this one)</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715">. This snow sits on a wide variety of surfaces, including wind-scoured and old wind slabs at higher elevations, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and facets and surface hoar in sheltered locations at treeline and below treeline elevations. The surface hoar and facets are found around 60 to 110 cm below the surface on all aspects up to elevations of 1400 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A deeply buried crust/surface hoar layer from mid-January exists in sheltered areas at treeline and below treeline elevations. Thin spot triggering is the primary concern for this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Northerly to easterly winds have created stiff wind slabs on leeward slopes and scoured wind-exposed slopes at all elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a crust and/or weak surface hoar layer buried in mid-January now lies about 60 to 100 cm below the surface. The crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in lower alpine and tree line elevations. Snowpack tests have produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this crust in the Smithers area, indicating that this is still a layer of concern.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-50 cm of recent storm snow is settling into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north / east, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The more recent snow sits on a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Gusty wind from various directions has scoured some exposed slopes and formed fresh wind slabs on others. Sheltered terrain has 30-50 cm of low density snow from recent storms. A crust layer can be found beneath the storm snow on sun-exposed slopes and below 1800 m, but these interfaces have not been involved in recent avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. The layers include several surface hoar and facet layers buried 1-2 m below the surface. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past week and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B"> 5-10cm of recent snow is overlying windslabs in some areas that are up to 30cm thick.  These windslabs seem to be very variable in terms of extent and location.  On Saturday only minimal slabs were encountered at treeline and then on Sunday in the Heros Bowl area, windslabs well down into treeline caused forecasters to turn around.  Where these slabs are being observed they are failing in the easy to moderate range down 20-40cm.  Deeper in the snowpack the December and January layers can still be found.  Hard results in snowpack tests that are sudden planar in nature indicate that this layer may be getting harder to trigger, but if it goes it will be a large avalanche.  In general these layers are down 100-140cm so be curious and dig and examine.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In sheltered terrain, cold weather is preserving 30-50 cm of low density snow. In exposed terrain, strong north winds have scoured north facing slopes and loaded south facing slopes. A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 40 cm beneath the recent storm snow. Reports suggest the snow has not yet formed a strong bond to the crust, creating a potential bed surface for slab avalanches. Monitor the bond of the new snow to this crust closely in your local area. There are no significant layers of concern below the crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow has settled into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north / east, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow totals are 15-30 cm with more in the very south of the region near Kimberley, where totals are closer to 50 cm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate south west through north west winds shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The recent snow sits on a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating recent storm loads. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 50-80 cm of recent snow with strong winds have created wind slabs in direct lee features. This overlies a surface hoar layer and a melt-freeze crust buried mid-February up to 1800 m, and old wind slabs and a sun crust at higher elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Also, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack. If triggered, they could produce large, destructive avalanches with high consequences.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30-60 cm of storm snow with strong winds have created widespread loose dry and storm slab avalanche problems.  Some of this snow has been re-distributed with strong winds, creating wind slabs on lee features.  These slabs overly a layer of weak surface hoar buried mid-February that has produced very easy snowpack test results with sudden fracture characters.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak with two main concerns:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1)</span><span class="s_3324E81">     </span><span class="s_3FE45715">a widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2)</span><span class="s_3324E81">     </span><span class="s_3FE45715">a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November near the bottom of the snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In exposed terrain, strong north winds have scoured north facing slopes and loaded south facing slopes. In sheltered terrain, cold weather is preserving 30-40 cm of low density snow. A crust layer can be found beneath the storm snow on sun-exposed slopes and below 1900 m, which has supported some wide propagations in recent storm slab avalanches. Deeper in the snowpack, avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust. This layer is now 150-200 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (cornice?) or the next major storm could potentially wake up this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In sheltered terrain, cold weather is preserving low density snow from the recent storms. In exposed terrain, strong north and east winds have scoured windward slopes and loaded lee slopes. Storm totals from Saturday range from 30 cm in the Duffey area and other northern parts of the region, 50 cm around the Coquihalla, and 40 cm around Manning Park.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In southern parts of the region, the new snow sits above a widespread crust with well settled snow below the crust. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In northern parts of the region, avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust and are avoiding shallow rocky slopes where triggering this layer is most likely. This layer is now 80-150 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (cornice?) or the next major storm could potentially wake up this layer. Cornice growth has also been reported in northern parts of the region, which could be a potential trigger for an avalanches on the slopes below them.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong northeast outflow winds have redistributed the 40-60 cm of recent storm snow. The winds have produced touchy wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded features at all elevations </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/33239be6-5348-4de0-a9a3-058eaceae76c" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">(as observed in this post</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span><a id='GoToAdded' href="http://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/68f5aa90-2979-4e89-a781-2c5cd9ab7ce9" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">and this one)</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715">.  The recent winds have also caused cornices to grow in size.  The wind slabs sit on a wide variety of surfaces, including wind-scoured and old wind slabs at higher elevations, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and facets and surface hoar in sheltered locations at treeline and below treeline elevations. The surface hoar and facet layers are found around 20 to 40 cm deep as well as 60 to 110 cm deep, generally at treeline and below treeline elevations.  Thin spot triggering is the primary concern for the deeper layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Northeasterly winds have created stiff wind slabs on leeward slopes and scoured wind-exposed slopes at all elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, two layers of crust and/or weak surface hoar are 20 to 40 cm deep and 60 to 100 cm deep. The deeper crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in lower alpine and tree line elevations. Snowpack tests have produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this deeper crust in the Smithers area, suggesting that it is a layer of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow is settling into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north / east, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The more recent snow sits on a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below treeline.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Gusty wind from various directions (primarily northeast) has scoured some exposed slopes and formed fresh wind slabs on others. Sheltered terrain has 30-50 cm of low density snow from recent storms. A crust layer can be found beneath the storm snow on sun-exposed slopes and below 1800 m, but these interfaces have not been involved in recent avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. The layers include several surface hoar and facet layers buried 1-2 m below the surface. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past week and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The wind slabs from last week's wind event are under the recent 5-10cm of snow. They are extensive in the alpine and variable at tree line depending upon the drainage. Forecasters are still concerned for triggering these wind slabs 20-40cm down. Secondly, large natural avalanches were still occurring on Feb 16 failing on the deeper persistent layers 100-150cm down(Dec 15 facets and Jan 6 surface hoar). We are still apprehensive to venture out into bigger terrain or travel under large avalanche slopes.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In exposed terrain, strong north winds have scoured north facing slopes and loaded south facing slopes. In sheltered terrain, cold weather is preserving 30-50 cm of low density snow. A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 40 cm beneath the recent storm snow. Reports suggest the snow has a poor bond to the crust, meaning there's a potential for slab avalanches on any steep or convex terrain feature. Monitor the bond of the snow to this crust closely. There are no significant layers of concern below the crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow has settled into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north / east, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches, with a higher frequency in the south east of this region. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow totals are 15-30 cm with more in the very south of the region near Kimberley, where totals are closer to 50 cm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate south west through north west winds shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The recent snow sits on a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack which is not tolerating recent storm loads. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">All of these layers have produced large avalanches recently. The wide distribution and ongoing reactivity of these layers suggests that avoidance through choosing simple terrain is the best strategy.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 50-80 cm of recent snow with strong winds have created wind slabs in direct lee features. On steep solar aspects, a thin sun crust exists.  These overly a layer of surface hoar, graupel, and a melt-freeze crust buried mid-February.  The melt-freeze crust exists up to 1700 m in elevation.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is 120-160 cm deep. Also, a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November is near the base of the snowpack. If triggered, these weak layers could produce large, destructive avalanches with high consequences.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30-60 cm of storm snow with strong winds have created widespread loose dry and storm slab avalanche problems. Some of this snow has been re-distributed with strong winds, creating wind slabs on lee features. These slabs overly a layer of weak surface hoar buried mid-February that has produced very easy snowpack test results with sudden fracture characters.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak with two primary concerns:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1)</span><span class="s_3324E81"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">a widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2)</span><span class="s_3324E81"> </span><span class="s_3FE45715">a rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November near the bottom of the snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In exposed terrain, strong north winds have scoured north facing slopes and loaded south facing slopes. In sheltered terrain, especially in the trees the cold weather is preserving 30-40 cm of low density snow. A crust layer can be found beneath the storm snow on sun-exposed slopes and below 1900 m, which has supported some wide propagations in recent storm slab avalanches. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust. This layer is now 150-200 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (cornice?) or the next major storm (warming and loading) could potentially wake up this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In sheltered terrain, cold weather is preserving low density snow from the recent storms. In exposed terrain, strong north and east winds have scoured windward slopes and loaded lee slopes. Storm totals from Saturday range from 30 cm in the Duffey area and other northern parts of the region, 50 cm around the Coquihalla, and 40 cm around Manning Park.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In southern parts of the region, the new snow sits above a widespread crust with well settled snow below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In northern parts of the region, avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust and are avoiding shallow rocky slopes where triggering this layer is most likely. This layer is now 80-150 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (cornice?) or the next major storm (warming and loading) could potentially wake up this layer. Cornice growth has also been reported in northern parts of the region, which could be a potential trigger for an avalanches on the slopes below them.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong northeast outflow winds redistributed the 40-60 cm of storm snow from last week and weekend.  The winds produced touchy wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded features.  The recent cold temperatures are helping to break down these wind slabs, but stiff slabs will likely remain reactive to light and heavy loads where preserved.  </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wind slabs sit on a wide variety of surfaces, including wind-scoured and old wind slabs at higher elevations, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and facets and surface hoar in sheltered locations at treeline and below treeline elevations.  The surface hoar and facet layers are found around 20 to 40 cm as well as 60 to 110 cm deep and on all aspects and elevation bands.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A deeply buried crust/surface hoar layer from mid-January exists in sheltered areas at treeline and below treeline elevations.  Thin spot triggering is the primary concern for this layer.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Northeasterly winds have created stiff wind slabs on leeward slopes and scoured wind-exposed slopes. The cold temperatures are helping to break down these wind slabs, but they will likely remain reactive to light and heavy loads where preserved.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, two layers of crust and/or weak surface hoar are 20 to 40 cm deep and 60 to 100 cm deep. The deeper crust exists well into the alpine and the surface hoar can be found in sheltered areas in lower alpine and tree line elevations. Snowpack tests have produced hard, sudden results on weak, sugary snow crystals associated with this deeper crust in the Smithers area, suggesting that it is a layer of concern.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow is settling into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north / east, shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The more recent snow sits on a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a troublesome snowpack. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</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">Strong and gusty wind from various directions (primarily northeast) has scoured some exposed slopes and formed fresh wind slabs on others. Sheltered terrain, especially in the trees has 30-50 cm of low density snow from last weekend's storm. A crust layer can be found beneath the storm snow on sun-exposed slopes and below 1800 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. The layers include several surface hoar and facet layers buried 1-2 m below the surface. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past week and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The alpine has extensive wind slabs covered with  5-10cm of recent snow.  The skiing has been slow with the cold temperatures.  At tree line, some drainages have wind effect and others do not.  The wind slabs are still a concern for human triggering.  The weaker persistent layer known as the December 15 facets is approximately 150cm down and if triggered will produce very large avalanches.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In exposed terrain, strong north winds have scoured north facing slopes and loaded south facing slopes. In sheltered terrain, cold weather is preserving 30-50 cm of low density snow. A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 40 cm beneath the recent storm snow. Reports suggest the snow has a poor bond to the crust with test results showing sudden planar characteristics. This means there's a potential for slab avalanches on any steep or convex terrain feature. Monitor the bond of the snow to this crust closely. There are no significant layers of concern below the crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow has settled into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north / east, redistributed these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie the old interface that was buried mid-February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack which is slowly beginning to show signs of improving but still remains suspect . In the top 150-200 cm of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</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">Recent storm snow totals are 15-30 cm with more in the very south of the region near Kimberley, where totals are closer to 50 cm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate south west through north west winds have redistributed these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The recent snow sits on the old interface that was buried mid-February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack which is slowly beginning to show sign of improving but still remains suspect. In the top 1-2 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</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">You are likely to find variable surfaces in open terrain after recent strong winds took out their fury on the upper snowpack. Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Ongoing cold temperatures are helping to break down and soften these.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar interface is about 40-60 cm down, but is spotty in distribution. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">In sheltered areas where the surface hoar exists, it is reactive in snowpack tests. Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 120-160 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">You are likely to find variable surfaces in open terrain after recent strong winds took out their fury on the upper snowpack. Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Ongoing cold temperatures are helping to break down and soften these.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar interface is about 40-60 cm down, but little is known about its sensitivity and distribution. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack in this region is weak with two primary concerns:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Highly variable surface conditions exist with extensive wind effect. In exposed terrain, strong north winds have scoured north facing slopes and loaded south facing slopes. In sheltered terrain, especially in the trees you may be able to find 30-40 cm of low density snow. A crust layer can be found beneath the storm snow on sun-exposed slopes and below 1900 m, which has supported some wide propagations in recent storm slab avalanches.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Deeper in the snowpack, avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust. This layer is now 150-200 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (cornice?) or the next major storm (warming and loading) could potentially wake up this layer.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Extensive wind effect exists at treeline and above. In exposed terrain, strong north and east winds have scoured windward slopes and loaded lee slopes. You can still find low density snow from last Saturday's storm stashed in sheltered trees at treeline and below. The cold temperatures are promoting settlement and surface facetting in the recent storm snow. In southern parts of the region, the new snow (40-50 cm) sits above a widespread crust with well settled snow below the crust. In northern parts of the region up to 30 cm of recent storm snow exists. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust and are avoiding shallow rocky slopes where triggering this layer is most likely. This layer is now 80-150 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (cornice?) or the next major storm (warming and loading) could potentially wake up this layer. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">You're likely to encounter highly variable snow surfaces after recent strong arctic outflow winds took out their fury on the upper snowpack. Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Ongoing cold temperatures are helping to break down and soften these. Windward slopes (roughly north to east facing) have been scoured back to an old crust. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wind slabs sit on various old surfaces including sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Around 50-150 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">You're likely to encounter highly variable snow surfaces after recent strong arctic outflow winds took out their fury on the upper snowpack. Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Ongoing cold temperatures are helping to break down and soften these. Windward slopes (roughly north to east facing) have been scoured back to an old crust. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wind slabs sit on various old surfaces including sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Around 50-150 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer from mid-January, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Facets at the base of the snowpack can possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow is settling into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north, have redistributed these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The recent snow sits on the old interface the was buried mid February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack which is slowly beginning to show signs of improving but still remains suspect. In the top 1.5-2.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</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">25-40cm of storm snow from last week is settling into a slab in the upper snowpack. Winds have been strong from the north west through south west, creating reactive hard wind slabs (10-15 cm thick) in exposed locations on down wind features. </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ridevalemount/videos/1956079874420987/" target="_blank"><span class="s_B5813F7D">See here for a good video summarizing conditions near Valemount.</span></a><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">These accumulations overlie the old interface that was buried mid-February and consists of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack that still remains suspect. In the top 1-1.5 m of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find at least one of these layers on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (120-200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</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">Highly variable surface snow exist showing stiff wind slab, wind press, sun crust on steep solar, surface facets and new surface hoar development in sheltered areas at teeline and below. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Previous strong and gusty wind from various directions (primarily northeast) has scoured some exposed slopes and formed fresh wind slabs on others. Sheltered terrain, especially in the trees has 30-50 cm of low density snow from last weekend's storm. A crust layer can be found beneath the storm snow on sun-exposed slopes and below 1800 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. The layers include several surface hoar and facet layers buried 1-2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past 10 days and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">In general, the upper half of the snowpack is not showing any weaknesses and is bonding well. The exception is in the alpine where the wind slabs are 20-40cm thick and are still possible to trigger. The biggest concern is for the December 15 facets which is showing a lower probability of triggering but with a high consequence if an avalanche occurs. Be careful of thinner areas where triggering the deeper layer is more likely.&nbsp; The sun is starting to have some punch to it, so be aware of steep solar aspects.</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">Surface snow is highly variable and wind-affected. In exposed terrain, strong north winds have scoured north facing slopes and loaded south facing slopes. In sheltered terrain, cold weather is preserving 30-50 cm of low density snow. A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 40 cm beneath the recent storm snow. Reports suggest the snow has a poor bond to the crust with test results showing sudden planar characteristics and it remains reactive to human triggers. Monitor the bond of the snow to this crust closely. There are no significant layers of concern below the crust.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow has settled into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north / east, redistributed these accumulations into tiff wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain. These accumulations overlie the old interface that was buried mid-February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack which is slowly beginning to show signs of improving but still remains suspect . In the top 150-200 cm of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (200-250 cm) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</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">Recent storm snow totals are 15-30 cm with more in the very south of the region near Kimberley, where totals are closer to 50 cm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate south west through north west winds have redistributed these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The recent snow sits on the old interface that was buried mid-February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack which is slowly beginning to show sign of improving but still remains suspect. In the top 80-120 cm of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 150 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</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">You are likely to find variable surfaces in open terrain after recent strong winds took out their fury on the upper snowpack. Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Ongoing cold temperatures are helping to break down and soften these.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar interface is about 40-60 cm down, but is spotty in distribution. In sheltered areas where the surface hoar exists, it is reactive in snowpack tests. Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 120-200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">You are likely to find variable surfaces in open terrain after recent strong winds took out their fury on the upper snowpack. Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Ongoing strong winds are expected to keep building wind slabs. A crust/surface hoar interface is about 40-60 cm down, but little is known about its sensitivity and distribution.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack in this region is weak with two primary concerns:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New storm snow will fall on highly variable and wind-affected snow surfaces. In exposed terrain, new snow will fall on scoured north facing slopes and wind-loaded south facing slopes. In sheltered terrain, new snow will fall on last weekends storm snow. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a crust layer can be found on sun-exposed slopes below 1900 m, which allowed for slab avalanches to propagate widely over the past week.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Even deeper, avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust. This layer is now 150-200 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (such as a cornice fall) or the next major storm (loading and/or warming) could wake this layer up.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New storm snow will fall on highly variable and wind-affected snow surfaces. In exposed terrain, new snow will fall on scoured north facing slopes and wind-loaded south facing slopes. In sheltered terrain, new snow will fall on last weekend’s storm snow. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack in southern parts of the region, recent snow sits above a widespread crust.  Below the crust, well-consolidated snow exists.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust and are avoiding shallow rocky slopes where triggering this layer is most likely. This layer is now 80-150 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (such as a cornice fall) or the next major storm (loading and/or warming) could wake this layer up.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Incoming snow is expected to be light and dry, but will come with moderate to strong south-westerly winds. Loose snow sluffing and fresh wind slabs are likely problems on Friday. New snow will overlie old soft and hard wind slabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper pack is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Deeper in the snowpack, around 50-150 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack has gone through several bouts of fighting with strong to extreme northerly winds in the last week. You are likely to encounter wind slabs in many places. Variable surface conditions include fragile cornices, hard and soft wind slabs, and scoured surfaces. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wind slabs sit on various old surfaces including sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Around 50-150 cm down, you will find a crust/surface hoar layer from mid-January, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Facets at the base of the snowpack can possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm of recent storm snow is settling into a slab in the upper snowpack. Strong winds, most recently from the north, have redistributed these accumulations into stiff wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain. The recent snow sits on the old interface the was buried mid February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack which is slowly beginning to show signs of improving but still remains suspect. In the top 150-200 cm of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (200-250 cm) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</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">20-40cm of storm snow from last week is settling into a slab in the upper snowpack. Winds have been strong from the north west through south west, creating reactive hard wind slabs (10-15 cm thick) in exposed locations on down wind features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">These accumulations overlie the old interface that was buried mid-February and consists of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack that still remains suspect. In the top 100-150 cm of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find at least one of these layers on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (150-200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December, most prevalent at and below tree line.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo, most likely to be triggered from thin spots in the alpine.</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">Highly variable snow surfaces exist, including wind-pressed snow (from primarily northeast winds), stiff wind slabs, sun crusts on steep solar aspects, and 30-50 cm of low density snow in sheltered areas at teeline and below.  A crust layer can be found beneath the storm snow on sun-exposed slopes and below 1800 m.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. The layers include several surface hoar and facet layers buried 1-2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and in big avalanche paths.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The snowpack doesn't start to become interesting until treeline. Once a month we go to Burstall Pass and dig a profile in a specific area. Today was that day. What we found was a stroll down memory lane. The early season crusts are still there, but they've been pushed to the ground. The problematic Dec 15 layer is down about a meter and seemingly stabilizing. Both of our surface hoar layers are still there, but same thing. No results in any sort of snow test. It's hard to say, but mid-pack layers are getting along much better these days. It's worth noting that the alpine is wind ravaged. Windslabs are pretty much everywhere, and the skiing looks challenging. But, sheltered treeline areas have decent snow. The cold has helped the surface layers facet out and soften.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New storm snow will fall on highly variable and wind-affected surfaces. In exposed terrain, strong north winds have scoured north facing slopes and produced wind slabs on southern slopes. In sheltered terrain, new snow will fall on last weekends storm snow. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 40 to 70 cm. Reports suggest the snow has a poor bond to the crust with test results showing sudden planar characteristics, a Rutschblock 2 (the whole block failing after standing on it), and it remains reactive to human triggers. Monitor the bond of the snow to this crust closely. There are no substantial layers of concern below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also make note of cornices at ridgeline. Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects, which will become touchier as they grow in size, temperatures rise, and the sun packs more of a punch. Stand well back of them!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A light dusting of new snow now covers 40-60 cm of storm snow from last week that has settled into a slab and been redistributed by previously strong winds into stiff wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">These accumulations overlie an interface that was buried mid-February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are slowly beginning to show signs of improving, but still remain suspect.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the top 150-200 cm of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or the other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (200-250 cm) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December that is most prevalent at treeline and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo from late November.</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">A light dusting of new snow on Friday now covers storm snow totals from last week that range from15-30 cm, with closer to 50 cm in the very south of the region near Kimberley. Moderate south west through north west winds have redistributed these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">These accumulations sit on an interface that was buried mid-February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack that is slowly beginning to show sign of improving but still remains suspect. In the top 80-120 cm of the snowpack, two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (around 150 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December that is most prevalent at treeline and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo from late November.</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">You are likely to find variable surfaces in open terrain after recent strong winds took out their fury on the upper snowpack. Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Ongoing cold temperatures are helping to break down and soften these.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar interface is about 40-60 cm down, but is spotty in distribution. In sheltered areas where the surface hoar exists, it is reactive in snowpack tests. Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 160-200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">You are likely to find variable surfaces in open terrain after recent strong winds took out their fury on the upper snowpack. Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Ongoing strong winds are expected to keep building wind slabs, which overlie a spotty crust/surface hoar interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is weak with two primary concerns:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late-November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 10 to 20 cm of storm snow fell with strong southerly winds, producing storm slabs on all aspects with deeper deposits found in lee features. This snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, a crust layer can be found on sun-exposed slopes below 1900 m, which allowed for slab avalanches to propagate widely over the past week.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Even deeper, avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust. This layer is now 150-200 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (such as a cornice fall) or the next major storm (loading and/or warming) could wake this layer up.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also make note of cornices at ridgeline. Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days. Stand well back of them!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 10 to 20 cm of storm snow fell with strong westerly winds, producing storm slabs on all aspects with deeper deposits found in lee features.  This snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the snowpack in southern parts of the region, a widespread crust exists around 30 to 50 cm deep.  Below the crust, well-consolidated snow exists.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Avalanche professionals are still monitoring the mid-January crust and are avoiding shallow rocky slopes where triggering this layer is most likely. This layer is now 80-150 cm deep, but a heavy trigger (such as a cornice fall) or the next major storm (loading and/or warming) could wake this layer up.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also make note of cornices at ridgeline.  Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects.  They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days.  Stand well back of them and avoid them from below!</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snow and wind over the weekend are building storm slabs and wind slabs in open terrain at alpine and treeline elevations. New snow has buried old hard wind slabs, scoured surfaces and sastrugi in many exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper pack is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Deeper in the snowpack, around 50-150 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light snow and strong winds over the weekend are building wind slabs in open terrain at alpine and treeline elevations. These overlie buried old hard wind slabs, scoured surfaces and sastrugi in many exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wind slabs sit on various old surfaces including sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Around 50-150 cm down, you will find a crust/surface hoar layer from mid-January, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Facets at the base of the snowpack can possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A light dusting of new snow on Friday now covers 40-60 cm of storm snow from last week that has settled into a slab and been redistributed with previously strong winds into stiff wind slabs in wind-exposed areas. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">These accumulations sit on an interface the was buried mid-February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, a rain crust below 1600m, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack which is slowly beginning to show signs of improving. In the top 150-200 cm of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find one or other of these on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (200-250 cm) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December that is most prevalent at treeline and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo from late November.</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">A light dusting of new snow on Friday now covers 20-40cm of storm snow from last week that has been redistributed by previously strong winds creating reactive hard wind slabs in open areas on downwind features. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">These accumulations overlie an interface that was buried mid-February and consists of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the snow surface, several persistent weak layers make up a complex snowpack that is starting to show signs of improving but still remains suspect. In the top 100-150 cm of the snowpack, two surface hoar layers buried in January can be found. Expect to find at least one of these layers on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (150-200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer from December that is most prevalent at treeline and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo from late November.</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 5 to 10 cm of storm snow fell with strong southwesterly winds, producing slabs on all aspects with deeper deposits in lee features.  This snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.  Deeper in the snowpack, variable surface hoar, faceted grains, and crusts exists around 30 to 50 cm deep, which are showing to be reactive to human traffic.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. The layers include several surface hoar and facet layers buried 1-2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and in big avalanche paths.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Not much has changed in the last day. The winds continue to have their way with the alpine snowpack. But unless the winds shift, no more damage can be done since all available snow has been blown away. Treeline is still a mixed bag of decent soft snow and old wind slabs that are faceting(weakening) out with the cold. Below treeline remains the same. None of the persistent layers have become reactive in the last 24 hours. For the most part, these layers are down about a meter and are within a 10-15cm range of each other. For simplicity, we are collectively calling these 3 layers a deep persistent slab problem. Cornices have grown considerably, but at this point they're hanging in there with no failures noted. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20 to 30 cm of storm snow fell with strong southwesterly winds, producing storm slabs on all aspects with deeper deposits found in lee features. This snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 50 to 90 cm. Reports suggest the snow has a poor bond to the crust with test results showing sudden planar characteristics and a Rutschblock 2 (the whole block failing after standing on it). </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Monitor the bonds of the new snow as well as the bond of the snow directly above the buried crust. There are no substantial layers of concern below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also make note of cornices at ridgeline. Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days. Stand well back of them!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 5-10 cm of new snow now covers the old snow interface which consists of sugary facets, as well as sun crusts on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-protected slopes. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this interface lies another interface, with similar character and distribution that was buried mid-February and is now 40-60 cm below the surface. This layer has been reactive in recent snowpack tests and several avalanches have been reported to have failed on this layer in the past week.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 150-200 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (200 - 250 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December that is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A light dusting of new snow on Friday now covers storm snow totals from last week that range from15-30 cm, with closer to 50 cm in the very south of the region near Kimberley. Winds have redistributed these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">These accumulations sit on an interface that was buried mid-February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes. Several recent avalanches have failed on this layer in the past week.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 80-120 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack ( about 150 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December that is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New wind slabs are building quickly as available light dry snow is moved around by moderate winds. Snow spillage from steep ground is also loading up fan features. In more sheltered locations, you may encounter storm slabs or loose dry sluffing. These upper snowpack problems overlie various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar. Storm slabs and wind slabs were becoming reactive to human triggers on Saturday in some areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 130-220 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Touchy new wind slabs were found on Saturday in the Crowsnest area. These are expected to continue to build over the next few days. Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Wind slabs overlie various surfaces, including older hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is weak with two primary concerns:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 10 to 20 cm of storm snow fell on Friday and another 25 cm of snow could fall in parts of the region Saturday night, and light flurries are expected Sunday morning. These storms have had strong south to westerly winds associated with them. Expect touchy storm slabs on all aspects with thicker slabs found in lee features. All of this snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces as well as a sun crust on solar aspects. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also make note of cornices at ridgeline. Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days. Stand well back of them and avoid them from below!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 10 to 20 cm of storm snow fell Friday night and another 15 to 30 cm is forecasted Saturday night into Sunday. These storms have had strong westerly winds associated with them. Expect touchy storm slabs on all aspects with thicker slabs in lee features. All of this snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the southern parts of the region, a widespread crust exists around 40 to 80 cm deep. Well-consolidated snow exists below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also make note of cornices at ridgeline. Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days. Stand well back of them and avoid them from below!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Snow and wind over the weekend are building storm slabs and wind slabs in open terrain at alpine and treeline elevations. Storm snow is sluffing readily in steep terrain. New snow has buried old hard wind slabs, scoured surfaces and sastrugi in many exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper pack is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Deeper in the snowpack, around 50-150 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light snow and strong winds over the weekend are building wind slabs in open terrain at alpine and treeline elevations. These overlie buried old hard wind slabs, scoured surfaces and sastrugi in many exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The wind slabs sit on various old surfaces including sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Around 50-150 cm down, you will find a crust/surface hoar layer from mid-January, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Facets at the base of the snowpack can possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 10 cm new snow now covers the old snow interface which consists of sugary facets, as well as sun crusts on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-protected slopes. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below this interface lies another interface, with similar character and distribution that was buried mid-February and is now 40-60 cm below the surface. This layer has been reactive in recent snowpack tests and several avalanches have been reported to have failed on this layer in the past week. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 150-200 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (200 - 250 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December that is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 5 to 15 cm of new snow now covers the old snow interface which consists of sugary facets as well as sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Below the old interface lies another interface, with similar character and distribution that was buried mid-February and is now 25-50 cm below the snow surface. This layer has been reactive in recent snowpack tests and recent avalanches have been reported to have failed on this layer in the past week.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are slowly beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 100-150 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (150 - 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December that is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 5 to 10 cm of storm snow on Friday night and another 5 to 10 cm is expected Sunday. The snow fell with strong southerly winds, producing slabs on all aspects with deeper deposits in lee features. This snow fell on variable surfaces, including wind-affected, weak surface hoar, and weak faceted snow. The new snow will likely not bond well to these surfaces and is expected to be reactive to both natural and human triggers. Beneath the new snow, variable surface hoar, faceted snow, and crusts exists around 30 to 50 cm deep, which have been reactive to human traffic.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. The layers include several surface hoar and facet layers buried 1-2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and in big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below treeline has really felt the cold. Any area that was loose snow prior to the cold is now weak and facetted. This isn't a bad thing, many windslabs have lost their cohesiveness thanks to that cold snap. At treeline the wind slabs are immediately noticeable once exposed terrain is reached. For the most part these slabs are thin and sometimes breakable. Steep, unsupported terrain may have reactive windslabs lurking, but for the most part the slabs are well bonded to underlying layers. The alpine. Judging from today's trip, it takes a brave soul to do battle with the current windslabs. They are widespread and either breakable or eerily hollow under foot. These feel as though they could be triggered from shallow, transitional areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30 to 40 cm of storm snow fell on Friday and another 25 cm of snow is forecasted for Saturday night, with more possible with convective flurries on Sunday. Both of these storms had strong southerly winds. Expect touchy storm slabs on all aspects with deeper deposits found in lee features. All of this snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces and a sun crust on southerly aspects. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 60 to 100 cm. Reports suggest the snow has a poor bond to the crust with test results showing sudden planar characteristics and a Rutschblock 2 (the whole block failing after standing on it). </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Monitor the bonds of the new snow as well as the bond of the snow directly above the buried crust. There are no substantial layers of concern below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also make note of cornices at ridgeline. Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days. Stand well back of them!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 15-30 cm of new snow now covers old surfaces which include of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes. I suspect strong winds will have redistributed much of the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm below the surface you'll likely find another interface with similar character and distribution that was buried mid-February. This layer has been reactive in recent snowpack tests and is definitely worth keeping an eye on as the overlying slab gains thickness and cohesion.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 150-200 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (200 - 250 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December that is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light amounts of new snow now cover storm snow totals from last week that range from15-30 cm, with closer to 50 cm in the very south of the region near Kimberley. Winds have redistributed these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">These accumulations sit on an interface that was buried mid-February consisting of; a mix of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes. Several recent avalanches have failed on this layer in the past week.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 80-120 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack ( about 150 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December that is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New wind slabs are building quickly as available light dry snow is moved around by moderate to strong winds. Snow spillage from steep ground is also loading up fans. In more sheltered locations, you may encounter storm slabs or loose dry sluffing. These upper snowpack problems overlie various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 130-220 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Wind slabs overlie various surfaces, including older hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is weak with two primary concerns:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 10 to 20 cm of storm snow fell on Friday and another 15 to 20 cm fell Saturday night into Sunday. Strong to extreme winds out of the south and southeast were recorded in the early hours of Sunday as the storm exited the region. Previous storms have been accompanied by strong south winds. All of this snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces as well as a sun crust on solar aspects. Also make note of cornices at ridgeline. Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10 to 20 cm of storm snow fell Friday night and another 12 to 25 cm fell Saturday night into Sunday. The successive storms were accompanied by strong winds out of the south, southwest, west and northwest. Wind stiffened storm slabs will likely be found in upper elevation terrain and this snow may not be bonding well to the old surface. In the southern portion of the region a widespread crust is down 40 to 80 cm below the surface. Well-consolidated snow exists below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on all aspects in the alpine. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun shines down upon them on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow accumulations of 40-80 cm have been affected by ongoing moderate to strong winds from the south-west through north-west at alpine and treeline elevations. This new snow has buried old hard wind slabs, scoured surfaces and sastrugi in many exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper pack is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Deeper in the snowpack, around 50-150 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light snow and strong winds are continuously building wind slabs in open terrain at alpine and treeline elevations. These overlie buried old hard wind slabs, scoured surfaces and sastrugi in many exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 50-150 cm down, you will find a crust/surface hoar layer from mid-January, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Facets at the base of the snowpack can possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 15-30 cm of new snow now covers old surfaces which include sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes. I suspect strong winds will have redistributed much of the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40-60 cm below the surface lies another interface with similar character and distribution. This layer, which was buried in mid-February, has been reactive in snowpack tests and is definitely worth keeping an eye on as the overlying slab gains thickness and cohesion.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 150-200 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (200 - 250 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December that is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 15-30 cm of new snow now covers old surfaces which include of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes. I suspect strong winds will have redistributed much of the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">25-60cm below the surface lies another interface, with similar character and distribution that was buried mid-February. This layer has been reactive in recent snowpack tests and is definitely worth keeping an eye on as the overlying slab gains thickness and cohesion.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are slowly beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 100-150 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack (150 - 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December that is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two successive storms over the weekend produced 10 to 30 cm of new snow accompanied by wind out of the southwest, west and northwest. 30 to 50 cm of snow now rests on the mid-February weak layer that includes facets, surface hoar and a sun crust on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. The layers include several surface hoar and facet layers buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Below treeline has really felt the cold. Any area that was loose snow prior to the cold is now weak and facetted. This isn't a bad thing, many windslabs have lost their cohesiveness thanks to that cold snap. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">At treeline the wind slabs are immediately noticeable once exposed terrain is reached. For the most part these slabs are thin and sometimes breakable. Steep, unsupported terrain may have reactive windslabs lurking, but for the most part the slabs are well bonded to underlying layers. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The alpine has windslabs that are widespread and either breakable or eerily hollow under foot. These feel as though they could be triggered from shallow, transitional areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30 to 40 cm of storm snow fell on Friday and another 10 to 15 cm of snow fell Saturday night into Sunday. Both of these storms had strong southerly winds. All of this snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces and a sun crust on southerly aspects. The new snow may not bond well to these surfaces and could be reactive to both natural and human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 60 to 100 cm. Reports suggest the snow has a poor bond to the crust with test results showing sudden planar characteristics and a Rutschblock 2 (the whole block failing after standing on it). </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Monitor the bonds of the new snow as well as the bond of the snow directly above the buried crust. There are no substantial layers of concern below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also make note of cornices at ridgeline. Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days. Stand well back of them!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 30-50 cm of new snow now covers old surfaces which include faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes. I suspect strong winds will have redistributed much of the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. 50-80 cm below the surface you'll likely find another interface with similar character and distribution that was buried mid-February. This layer has been reactive in recent snowpack tests and has produced large avalanches, particularly in the south of the region where the overlying slab has become deep and cohesive.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several persistent weak layers that are showing signs of improvement but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. Two surface hoar layers buried in January are now 100-150 cm below the snow surface. Deeper in the snowpack (150 - 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December. Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as solar radiation, rapid loading/warming, or a cornice fall. Human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the last couple of days between 5 and 30 centimetres of snow fell with the greatest accumulations occurring in the southwestern corner of the region. Winds have redistributed these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Up to 60cm below the surface you may find an interface that was buried mid-February consisting of older wind slabs in exposed higher elevation terrain, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and surface hoar on sheltered slopes. Several avalanches have failed on this layer in the past week.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several persistent weak layers that are slowly beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. Two surface hoar layers buried in January are now 80-120 cm below the snow surface. Deeper in the snowpack (about 150 deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December. Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as solar radiation, rapid loading/warming, or a cornice fall. Human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</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">New wind slabs are building as up to 45 cm of light dry snow fell in the past two days and is being moved around by moderate to strong westerly winds. Snow spillage from steep ground is also loading up fans. In more sheltered locations, you may encounter storm slabs or loose dry sluffing. These upper snowpack problems overlie various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (for example February 14 surface hoar is now 60 to 80 cm below the surface).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 200+ cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Wind slabs overlie various surfaces, including older hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is weak with two primary concerns that are generally widespread:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm totals from the weekend are between 25 and 55 cm. This snow was subject to strong to extreme winds out of the southeast, south and southwest on Sunday which formed fresh wind slabs that extend down to treeline. The new snow rests on the February 22nd interface which consists of old wind slabs, spotty surface hoar, facets and a sun crust on solar aspects. Recent testing has shown resistant planar shears at this interface which makes sense given the activity listed above. Beneath the February 22nd interface the snowpack is well settled and strong. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20 to 40 cm of new snow fell over the weekend accompanied by strong winds that were predominantly out of the south, southwest and west. This wind event formed widespread wind slabs that likely extend down into treeline. The new snow rests on the February 23 weak layer that consists of wind hardened snow, facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. In the southern portion of the region a widespread crust is down 40 to 80 cm below the surface. Well-consolidated snow exists below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on all aspects in the alpine. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow accumulations of 40-80 cm have been affected by ongoing moderate to strong winds from the south-west through north-west at alpine and treeline elevations. Monday's storm will continue this trend with strong northwest winds. Recent storms are burying older hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in wind-exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper pack is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Deeper in the snowpack, around 50-150 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder / drier parts of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light snow and strong winds continue to create wind slabs in open terrain at alpine and treeline elevations. These cover old hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in many exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 50-150 cm down, you will find a crust/surface hoar layer from mid-January, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Facets at the base of the snowpack could possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 20-50 cm of new snow now covers old surfaces which include faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes. I suspect strong winds will have redistributed much of the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. 40-70 cm below the surface lies another interface with similar character and distribution. This layer, which was buried in mid-February, has been reactive in snowpack tests and is definitely worth keeping an eye on as the overlying slab gains thickness and cohesion.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several persistent weak layers that are showing signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. Two surface hoar layers buried in January are now 100-150 cm below the snow surface. Deeper in the snowpack (150 - 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December. Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as solar radiation, rapid loading/warming, or a cornice fall. Human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">About 20-40 cm of new snow now covers old surfaces which include of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes. I suspect strong winds will have redistributed much of the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-60cm below the surface lies another interface, with similar character and distribution that was buried mid-February. This layer has been reactive in recent snowpack tests and is definitely worth keeping an eye on as the overlying slab gains thickness and cohesion.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715"> </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are slowly beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 100-150 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations. Deeper in the snowpack (150 - 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December. Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two successive storms over the weekend produced 10 to 40 cm of new snow accompanied by wind out of the southwest, west and northwest. 30 to 60 cm of snow now rests on the mid-February weak layer that is composed of facets, surface hoar and a sun crust on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. Several surface hoar and facet layers are buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and there is a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_A91C021F">Alpine</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">:  Wind slabs are widespread.  Be alert for triggering in shallow areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_A91C021F">Treeline</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">:  Wind slabs are noticeable and variable in exposed terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_A91C021F">Below Treeline</span><span class="s_AA239A9B">:  The snow is now weak and faceted but still supportive to skier traffic.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30 to 40 cm of storm snow fell on Friday and another 10 to 15 cm of snow fell Saturday night into Sunday. Both of these storms had strong southerly winds. All of this snow rests on previously wind-affected surfaces and a sun crust on southerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 60 to 100 cm. Reports suggest the snow has a poor bond to the crust with test results showing sudden planar characteristics and a Rutschblock 2 (the whole block failing after standing on it). </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Monitor the bonds of the new snow as well as the bond of the snow directly above the buried crust. There are no substantial layers of concern below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also make note of cornices at ridgeline. Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days. Stand well back of them!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since Saturday night, 25-50 cm of new snow fell. These accumulations cover old surfaces which include faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on sheltered slopes. Strong winds will have redistributed much of the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. 50-80 cm below the surface you'll find another interface with similar character and distribution that was buried mid-February. This layer has been reactive in recent snowpack tests and has produced large avalanches, particularly in the south of the region where the overlying slab has become deep and cohesive. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several persistent weak layers that are showing signs of improvement but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. Two surface hoar layers buried in January are now 100-150 cm below the snow surface. Deeper in the snowpack (150 - 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December. Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as solar radiation, rapid loading/warming, or a cornice fall. Human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since Saturday night between 5 and 30 centimetres of snow fell with the greatest accumulations occurring in the southwestern corner of the region. Winds have shifted these accumulations into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Up to 60cm below the surface you may find an interface that was buried mid-February consisting of older wind slabs, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. Reports suggest this interface may be most reactive on solar aspects where the buried sun crust coexists with small facets. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several persistent weak layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. Two surface hoar layers buried in January are now 80-120 cm below the snow surface. Deeper in the snowpack (about 150 deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December. Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as solar radiation, rapid loading/warming, or a cornice fall. Human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</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">New wind slabs are building as approximately 40 cm of light dry snow has fallen in recent days and is being moved around by moderate to strong westerly winds. This storm snow overlies various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (for example February 14 surface hoar is now 50 to 80 cm below the surface).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong to extreme winds have scoured windward slopes and formed cornices and hard and soft wind slabs on (downwind)  alpine and treeline slopes. These wind slabs overlie various surfaces, including older hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is weak with two primary concerns that are generally widespread:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm totals from the weekend are between 25 and 55 cm. This snow was subject to strong to extreme winds out of the southeast, south and southwest on Sunday and Monday which has formed fresh wind slabs that extend down to treeline. The new snow rests on the February 22nd interface which consists of old wind slabs, spotty surface hoar, facets and a sun crust on solar aspects. Reported testing on Monday continues to produce resistant planar shears at this interface which makes sense given the activity listed above. Beneath the February 22nd interface the snowpack is well settled and strong. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20 to 50 cm of new snow fell over the weekend accompanied by strong winds that were predominantly out of the south, southwest and west. Wind out of the southwest and west picked up again on Monday forming very soft wind slabs that were reactive to skier traffic. These two wind events have formed widespread wind slabs that likely extend down into treeline elevations. You may find the odd wind slab in open features below treeline too. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new storm and wind slabs rests on the February 23 weak layer that consists of wind hardened snow, facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. Compression tests preformed Monday continue to show resistent planar results at this interface. In the southern portion of the region a widespread crust is down 40 to 80 cm below the surface. Well-consolidated snow exists below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many an alpine ridgeline. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow accumulations of 40-80 cm have been affected by ongoing moderate to strong winds from the south-west through north-west at alpine and treeline elevations. Recent storms are burying older hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in wind-exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper pack about 50-70 cm deep is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations) that was buried mid-February. Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder / drier parts of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light snow and strong winds continue to create wind slabs in open terrain at alpine and treeline elevations. These cover old hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in many exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 50-150 cm down, you will find a crust/surface hoar layer from mid-January, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Facets at the base of the snowpack could possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since Saturday night, 20-50 cm of new snow fell. These accumulations cover old surfaces which include faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes. I suspect strong winds will have redistributed much of the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. 40-70 cm below the surface lies another interface with similar character and distribution. This layer, which was buried in mid-February, has just started to produce large avalanches and is definitely worth keeping an eye on as the overlying slab gains thickness and cohesion.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several persistent weak layers that are showing signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. Two surface hoar layers buried in January are now 100-150 cm below the snow surface. Deeper in the snowpack (150 - 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December. Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as solar radiation, rapid loading/warming, or a cornice fall. Human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Since Saturday night, 20-50 cm of new snow fell. These accumulations cover old surfaces which include faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes. I suspect strong winds will have redistributed much of the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">30-65cm below the surface lies another interface, with similar character and distribution that was buried mid-February. This layer has produced large avalanches in the neighbouring North Columbia region, and is definitely worth keeping an eye on as the overlying slab gains thickness and cohesion.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are slowly beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 100-150 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations. Deeper in the snowpack (150 - 200 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December. Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046"> </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two successive storms over the weekend produced 10 to 40 cm of new snow accompanied by wind out of the southwest, west and northwest. In some locations this snow rests on the February 23rd weak layer which is composed of small surface hoar on polar aspects and a thin crust on solar aspects. 30 to 60 cm of snow now rests on the mid-February weak layer that is composed of facets, surface hoar and a sun crust on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. Several surface hoar and facet layers are buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and there is a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">5 to 8cm of new snow in the past 24hrs at Treeline. Widespread wind effect in Alpine and Treeline areas, with highly variable wind directions. Surface snow has been facetting on sheltered northerly aspects Below Treeline, and has been reactive to ski cutting in steep terrain in recent days. Several snow profiles today across the region indicate a well settled and dense midpack. The persistent weak layers from Jan 18, Jan 6 and Dec 15 are still evident in the snowpack but there were no test results from compression tests on these layers today.</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 region picked up 10 to 15 cm of new snow as of Tuesday afternoon which has been quite touchy. 40 to 55 cm of storm snow fell over the weekend accompanied by strong southerly winds. All of this snow rests on previously wind-affected surfaces and a sun crust on southerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 60 to 120 cm deep. There are no substantial weak layers below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cornices have formed on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days. Stand well back of them!</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">Around 20 to 40 cm of recent storm snow is being redistributed into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. It also covers old surfaces including faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar on shady slopes. Around 50 to 80cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above. It also seems more of a problem in southern areas of the region.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. I'm talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 30 cm of recent storm snow is being redistributed into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Up to 60cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. I'm talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New wind slabs are building as approximately 40-50 cm of light dry snow has fallen in recent days and is being moved around by moderate to strong westerly winds. This storm snow overlies various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (for example February 14 surface hoar is now 50 to 70 cm below the surface).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Strong to extreme winds have scoured windward slopes and formed cornices and hard and soft wind slabs on (downwind) alpine and treeline slopes. These wind slabs overlie various surfaces, including older hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is weak with two primary concerns that are generally widespread:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm totals from the weekend are between 25 and 55 cm. This snow was subject to strong to extreme winds out of the southeast, south and southwest on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday which has formed widespread wind slabs that extend down to treeline. The new snow rests on the February 22nd interface which consists of old wind slabs, spotty surface hoar, facets and a sun crust on solar aspects. Snowpack testing on Tuesday continues to produce resistant planar shears at this interface which makes sense given the activity listed above. Beneath the February 22nd interface the snowpack is well settled and strong. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20 to 50 cm of new snow fell over the weekend accompanied by strong winds that were predominantly out of the south, southwest and west. Wind out of the southwest and west picked up again on Monday forming very soft wind slabs that were reactive to skier traffic. These two wind events have formed widespread wind slabs that likely extend down into treeline elevations. You may find the odd wind slab in open features below treeline too. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The new storm and wind slabs rests on the February 23 weak layer that consists of wind hardened snow, facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. Compression tests preformed Monday continue to show resistent planar results at this interface. In the southern portion of the region a widespread crust is down 40 to 80 cm below the surface. Well-consolidated snow exists below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many an alpine ridgeline. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow accumulations of 50-100 cm have been affected by ongoing moderate to strong westerly winds at alpine and treeline elevations. Recent storms are burying older hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in wind-exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper pack about 100-150 cm deep, is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations) that was buried mid-February. Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder / drier parts of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Light snow and strong winds continue to create wind slabs in open terrain at alpine and treeline elevations. These cover old hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in many exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 50-150 cm down, you will find a crust/surface hoar layer from mid-January, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Facets at the base of the snowpack could possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">Around 40 to 60 cm of recent storm snow is being redistributed into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. I'm talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">Around 60 cm of recent storm snow is being redistributed into slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. I'm talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region picked up 20 to 35 cm of new snow Tuesday and Wednesday which adds to the two successive storms over the weekend that produced 10 to 40 cm of new snow. The weekend storm was accompanied by wind out of the southwest, west and northwest. In some locations this snow rests on the February 23rd weak layer which is composed of small surface hoar on polar aspects and a thin crust on solar aspects. 30 to 60 cm of snow now rests on the mid-February weak layer that is composed of facets, surface hoar and a sun crust on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. Several surface hoar and facet layers are buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and there is a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region picked up 15 cm of snow during the day Wednesday with moderate winds out of the east/southeast. This adds to the 20 cm that fell Tuesday. 40 to 55 cm of storm snow fell over the weekend accompanied by strong southerly winds. All of this snow rests on previously wind-affected surfaces and a sun crust on southerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 60 to 120 cm deep. There are no substantial weak layers below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cornices have formed on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong mid-winter sun on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">The 30 to 50cm of recent storm snow is &quot;right side up&quot; and settling. Earlier in the last storm it was redistributed into localized wind slabs. It covers old surfaces including faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar on shady slopes. Around 50 to 80cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar. March 01 today -- 'tis the season when solar aspects start to get complicated!</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_E6FD2046">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. I'm talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 40 cm of recent storm snow (in the south and west parts of the region) was redistributed into wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain by south and southwest flow. Up to 60cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. I'm talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall or smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 40-70 cm of light dry snow has fallen in during the past week. This storm snow overlies various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also in the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 100 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">About 15-30 cm of new snow now covers previously wind-scoured, westerly slopes and old hard and soft wind slabs on leeward, easterly alpine and treeline slopes. Beneath these old wind slabs lies a well-settled mid-pack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is weak with two primary concerns that are generally widespread:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The Wednesday night storm produced far more snow than expected, 20 to 45 cm fell across the region accompanied by winds out of the east, southeast and south. In wind exposed terrain the new snow rests on widespread wind damaged snow and wind slabs that were formed by the weekend snow and strong to extreme winds earlier this week out of the southeast, south and southwest. In wind sheltered terrain the new snow may be sitting on a thin layer of surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The February 22nd interface is now down 50 to 70 cm, this layer is composed of old wind slabs, spotty surface hoar, facets and a sun crust on solar aspects. Snowpack testing on Wednesday continues to produce planar shears at this interface. As we move towards the weekend south facing slopes will be the most suspect with regard to this layer. Beneath the February 22nd interface the snowpack is well settled and strong. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region picked up 5 to 10 cm of snow Wednesday night which adds to the 20 to 50 cm that fell over the weekend. Wind over the last few days out of the south, southwest and west formed widespread wind slabs, but these wind slabs are becoming more stubborn and somewhat resistent to human triggering. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The February 23 weak layer is now down 30 to 70 cm below the surface. This interface consists of wind hardened snow, facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. Compression tests preformed Wednesday continue to show planar results at this interface. In the southern portion of the region a widespread crust is down 40 to 80 cm below the surface. Well-consolidated snow exists below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow accumulations of 50-100 cm have buried old, hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in wind-exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper pack about 100-150 cm deep, is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations) that was buried mid-February. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder / drier parts of the region.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Approximately 40-60 cm of new and recent storm snow now covers old, hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in many exposed areas while in wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar layer buried mid-January is now roughly 80 - 140 cm below the surface, and still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Facets at the base of the snowpack could also possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 40 to 60 cm of recent storm snow is being redistributed into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as having a low probability of triggering yet a high consequence avalanche if they are triggered. We're talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 60 cm of recent storm snow is being redistributed into slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as a low probability to trigger, yet high consequence avalanche if triggered. We are talking about surface hoar buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region picked up 20 to 40 cm of new snow Tuesday and Wednesday which adds to the two successive storms over the weekend that produced 10 to 40 cm of new snow. The weekend storm was accompanied by wind out of the southwest, west and northwest. In some locations this snow rests on the February 23rd weak layer which is composed of small surface hoar on polar aspects and a thin crust on solar aspects. 40 to 70 cm of snow now rests on the mid-February weak layer that is composed of facets, surface hoar and a sun crust on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. Several surface hoar and facet layers are buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and there is a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">This week so far we have only seen 10cm of new snow at the higher elevations.  This snow has been moved around by the NW flow adding load to the previous existing windslabs that had formed across the region.  Forecasters can confirm that wind affected snow is the norm.  Any above treeline terrain has been pummeled by the winds making travel fast but skiing not so appealing.  Cold temps have also facetted out the upper snowpack below treeline making shallow areas very weak.  The midpack is well settled but we are in need of new snow for a bit of a re-set within the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region picked up 20 to 40 cm of snow Wednesday and Thursday with moderate winds out of the east/southeast. This adds to the 50 to 70 cm that fell between Saturday and Tuesday. All of this snow rests on previously wind-affected surfaces and a sun crust on southerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 60 to 120 cm deep. There are no substantial weak layers below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cornices have formed on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong mid-winter sun on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An additional 10-25cm of new snow fell Thursday into Friday, bringing the storm snow total this week to 40 to 70cm. Earlier in the last storm it was redistributed into localized wind slabs. It covers old surfaces including faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar on shady slopes. Around 50 to 80cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar. March 01 today -- 'tis the season when solar aspects start to get complicated!</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. I'm talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 50 cm of recent storm snow (in the south and west parts of the region) has been redistributed into wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain by south and southwest flow. Up to 60cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. We are talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary faceted snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall or smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-60 cm of new low density accumulated in the region over Friday night. This brings snowfall totals from the past week to about 100 cm. This storm snow overlies various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and more isolated surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also in the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 100 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">About 15-30 cm of new snow now covers previously wind-scoured, westerly slopes and old hard and soft wind slabs on leeward, easterly alpine and treeline slopes. Beneath these old wind slabs lies a well-settled mid-pack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is weak with two primary concerns that are generally widespread:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The Wednesday night storm produced far more snow than expected, 20 to 45 cm of slightly upside down snow fell across the region accompanied by winds out of the east, southeast and south. In wind exposed terrain the new snow rests on widespread wind damaged snow and wind slabs. In wind sheltered terrain the new snow may be sitting on a thin layer of surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The February 22nd interface is now down 50 to 70 cm, this layer is composed of old wind slabs, spotty surface hoar, facets and a sun crust on solar aspects. Snowpack testing on Thursday continues to produce planar shears at this interface. As we move into the weekend south facing slopes will be the most suspect with regard to this layer. Beneath the February 22nd interface the snowpack is well settled and strong. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region picked up 10 to 40 cm of storm snow this week accompanied by wind mainly out of the southeast, south and southwest. As the storm exited the region Thursday winds shifted to the east/northeast. This new storm snow rests on top of old wind slabs that are becoming more stubborn and somewhat resistent to human triggering. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The February 23 weak layer is now down 30 to 70 cm below the surface. This interface consists of wind hardened snow, facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. Compression tests preformed Thursday continue to show planar results at this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong outflow winds have been scouring and redistributing recent storm snow accumulations of 50-100 cm into deep and reactive wind slabs on a variety of aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Within this storm snow, a layer of surface hoar down about 10 cm has been reported as reactive to skier traffic in sheltered areas below treeline.  The interface at the base of the storm snow consists of heavily wind affected surfaces at higher elevations as well as sun crusts or dry facets in sheltered terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another interface composed of sun crust, facets, and more isolated surface hoar can be found about 100-150 cm deep. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder and drier parts of the region, such as in the far north.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate to strong outflow winds have been redistributing&nbsp; 50-70 cm of new and recent storm in exposed areas. This storm snow has buried old, hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in exposed areas as well as sun crusts or dry facets in sheltered terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar layer buried mid-January is now roughly 80-140 cm below the surface, and still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Facets at the base of the snowpack could also possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40 to 60 cm of recent storm snow has been redistributed into deeper, reactive slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as having a low probability of triggering yet a high consequence avalanche if they are triggered. We're talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 60 cm of recent storm snow is settling and has been redistributed into slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as a low probability to trigger, yet would produce a high consequence avalanche if triggered. We are talking about surface hoar buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region picked up 20 to 60 cm of new snow this week with widely variable winds. Moderate to strong east/southeast winds picked up Thursday night and added some stiffness to the storm slab at all elevations. In some locations this snow rests on the February 23rd weak layer which is composed of small surface hoar on polar aspects and a thin crust on solar aspects. Moderate resistant planar shears were reported at this interface Friday.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40 to 90 cm of snow now rests on the mid-February weak layer that is composed of facets, surface hoar and a sun crust on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. Several surface hoar and facet layers are buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and there is a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for the past two weeks and snowpack tests are showing improved bonding. Despite these signs, avalanche professionals are still treating these layers with respect and being cautious around shallow start zones and big avalanche paths.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We received 10-15cm of low density snow last night. The southern areas received the bulk of it, while the northern areas escaped the full up-slope punch. There was some wind associated with the storm, but only enough to create very soft windslabs. These slabs appear to be on all aspects above 2300m. While this snow certainly helps the ski quality, in most alpine and treeline areas, the windslabs are still felt while traveling. The windslabs are our main concern at the moment. Expect to find breakable slabs, hard slab and the occasional area of soft snow. Ski quality is better below treeline where the windslabs have facetted (weakened) out.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region picked up 20 to 40 cm of snow Wednesday and Thursday with moderate winds out of the east/southeast. This adds to the 50 to 70 cm that fell between Saturday and Tuesday. All of this snow rests on previously wind-affected surfaces and a sun crust on southerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 60 to 120 cm deep. There are no substantial weak layers below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cornices have formed on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An additional 20-40cm of new snow fell Thursday through Friday, bringing the storm snow total this week to 50 to 80cm. This storm snow has been redistributed into localized wind slabs. It covers old surfaces including faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar on shady slopes. Around 70 to 100cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability to trigger yet will result as a high consequence avalanche if triggered. We are talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another 10-20cm of new snow Friday into Saturday brings storm snow amounts for the last week to 50-80cm (higher amounts in the south and west parts of the region). This new snow has been redistributed into wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain by primarily south, southwest and southeast wind. 60-90cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. We are talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary faceted snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall or smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-60 cm of new low density snow accumulated in the region over Friday night. This brings snowfall totals from the past week to about 100 cm. This storm snow overlies various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and more isolated surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also in the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 100 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">After 10-25 cm of new snow fell over Friday night, about 25-40 cm of accumulated storm snow now covers previously wind-scoured, westerly slopes and old hard and soft wind slabs on leeward, easterly alpine and treeline slopes. Beneath these old wind slabs lies a well-settled mid-pack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The lower snowpack is generally weak with two primary concerns that are widespread:</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The Wednesday night storm produced far more snow than expected, 20 to 45 cm of slightly upside down snow fell across the region accompanied by winds out of the east, southeast and south. In wind exposed terrain the new snow rests on widespread wind damaged snow and wind slabs. In wind sheltered terrain the new snow may be sitting on a thin layer of surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The February 22nd interface is now down 50 to 70 cm, this layer is composed of old wind slabs, spotty surface hoar, facets and a sun crust on solar aspects. Snowpack testing on Thursday continues to produce planar shears at this interface. As we move into the later half of the weekend south facing slopes will be the most suspect with regard to this layer. Beneath the February 22nd interface the snowpack is well settled and strong. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The Coquihalla picked up a surprise 35 to 45 cm of snow Friday and Friday night with light easterly winds which is now hiding previously formed wind slabs. Mainly southerly winds formed these wind slabs as they interacted with up to 120 cm of storm snow that has fallen in the last week. All of the new snow rests on the February 23 weak layer. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The February 23 weak layer is down 80 to 120 cm below the surface. This interface consists of wind hardened snow, facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. Compression tests preformed Friday continue to show planar results at this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong outflow winds have been scouring and redistributing recent storm snow accumulations of 50-100 cm into deep wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind-exposed terrain. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In sheltered areas at treeline and below, 20-30 cm of settling snow sits over a layer of surface hoar that was recently reported as reactive to skier traffic. Below this, the interface at the base of the storm snow consists of heavily wind affected surfaces at higher elevations as well as sun crusts or dry facets in sheltered terrain. These two layers are the concerns identified in our persistent slab problem.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Another interface composed of sun crust, facets, and more isolated surface hoar can be found about 100-150 cm deep. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder and drier parts of the region, such as in the far north.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate to strong outflow winds have been redistributing 50-70 cm of new and recent storm snow in exposed areas. This storm snow has buried old, hard wind slabs and scoured surfaces in exposed areas as well as sun crusts or dry facets in sheltered terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar layer buried mid-January is now roughly 80-140 cm below the surface, and still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Facets at the base of the snowpack could also possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40 to 60 cm of storm snow from the past week has been redistributed into wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain on most aspects. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar sitting above. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as having a low probability of triggering yet a high consequence avalanche if they are triggered. We're talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 60 cm of recent storm snow is settling and has been redistributed into slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as a low probability to trigger, yet would produce a high consequence avalanche if triggered. We are talking about surface hoar buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10 to 20 cm of new snow fell Friday night with light winds mainly out of the southwest. This adds to the 20 to 60 cm of new snow that fell this week with widely variable winds. Moderate to strong east/southeast winds picked up Thursday night and added some stiffness to the storm slab at all elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The February 23rd weak layer is now down 40 to 90 cm and is composed of small surface hoar on polar aspects and a thin crust on solar aspects. Moderate resistant planar shears were reported at this interface Friday.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-February weak layer is down 40 to 130 cm and is composed of facets, surface hoar and a sun crust on solar aspects. This interface is likely most problematic on south facing slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two deeper weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. Several surface hoar and facet layers are buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and there is a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for a few weeks and they are thought to have gone dormant at this time. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Snow continued overnight and today. So far storm totals are approaching 25cm at treeline. For the most part this new snow has come in with little wind, however there has been just enough of it to build soft windslabs. Some minor cracking was noted today within the new windslabs, but not enough to make an avalanche problem just yet. The weak mid pack is easily felt in the valley bottom and treeline elevations. If the new slabs firm up, these weak facets could become a sliding layer. The deeper instabilities are handling the new load well for the time being. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region picked up 20 to 40 cm of snow Wednesday and Thursday with moderate winds out of the east/southeast. This adds to the 50 to 70 cm that fell between Saturday and Tuesday. All of this snow rests on previously wind-affected surfaces and a sun crust on southerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A hard rain crust that extends into alpine terrain is buried about 60 to 120 cm deep. There are no substantial weak layers below the crust.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cornices have formed on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">An additional 20-40cm of new snow fell Thursday through Saturday, bringing the storm snow total this week to 50 to 90cm. This storm snow has been redistributed into localized wind slabs. It covers old surfaces including faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar on shady slopes. Around 70 to 110cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability to trigger yet will result as a high consequence avalanche if triggered. We are talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow amounts from the last week total 50-80cm (higher amounts in the south and west parts of the region). This new snow has been redistributed into wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain by primarily south, southwest and southeast wind. 70-100cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. We are talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary faceted snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall or smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">50-60 cm of new low density snow accumulated in the region over Friday night. This brings snowfall totals from the past week to about 100 cm. This storm snow overlies various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and more isolated surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also in the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 100 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects. Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">10-25 cm of new snow falling Friday night, brings accumulated storm snow total to 25-40cm. This new snow covers previously wind-scoured, westerly slopes and old hard and soft wind slabs on leeward, easterly alpine and treeline slopes. Beneath these old wind slabs lies a well-settled mid-pack. The lower snowpack is generally weak with two primary concerns that are widespread:</span></p><ul start="1" style="list-style-type:disc"><li value="1" class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></li><li value="2" class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></li></ul>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A thin sun crust has formed on solar aspects and the surface is wind affected in most exposed terrain. 40 cm of storm snow from last week is gradually settling and may be sitting on a thin layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The February 22nd interface is now 50 to 70 cm below the surface. This layer is composed of old wind slabs, spotty surface hoar, facets and a sun crust on solar aspects. Snowpack testing suggests this layer may remain reactive, particulary on south-facing slopes. The snowpack is well settled and stronge beneath the February 22nd interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The Coquihalla picked up a surprise 35 to 45 cm on Friday which is now hiding previously formed wind slabs. Mainly southerly winds formed these wind slabs as they interacted with up to 120 cm of storm snow that fell last week. All of the new snow rests on the February 23 weak layer. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The February 23 weak layer is now 80 to 120 cm deep in the southern part of the region and about 40 cm deep in northern parts of the region. This interface consists of wind hardened snow, facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. Compression tests preformed Friday continue to show planar results at this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Strong outflow winds have scoured and redistributed storm snow accumulations of 50-70 cm into deep wind slabs on a variety of aspects in wind-exposed terrain. In sheltered areas at treeline and below, 20-30 cm of settling snow sits over a layer of surface hoar that has been reactive to skier traffic. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A few deeper interfaces may have been reactive during the recent storm, but have become much harder to trigger since. These include layers of sun crust, facets, and isolated surface hoar buried 70-150 cm below the surface. Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder and drier parts of the region, such as in the far north.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate to strong outflow winds have been redistributing 50-70 cm of new and recent storm snow in exposed areas. This storm snow has buried old, hard wind affected snow in exposed areas as well as sun crusts or dry facets in sheltered terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar layer buried mid-January is now roughly 80-140 cm below the surface, and still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Facets at the base of the snowpack could also possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">40 to 60 cm of storm snow from the past week has been redistributed into wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain on most aspects. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar sitting above. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as having a low probability of triggering yet would produce a high consequence avalanche if they are triggered. We're talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 60 cm of recent storm snow is settling and has been redistributed into slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as a low probability to trigger, yet would produce a high consequence avalanche if triggered. We are talking about surface hoar buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10 to 20 cm of new snow fell Friday night, bringing weekly storm totals up to 40-60 cm. Moderate to strong east/southeast winds picked up Thursday night and added some stiffness to storm slabs at all elevations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The February 23rd weak layer is now down 40 to 90 cm and is composed of small surface hoar on polar aspects and a thin crust on solar aspects. Moderate resistant planar shears were reported at this interface Friday.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-February weak layer is down 40 to 130 cm and is composed of facets, surface hoar and a sun crust on solar aspects. This interface is likely most problematic on south facing slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two deeper weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. Several surface hoar and facet layers are buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and there is a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for a few weeks and they are thought to have gone dormant at this time. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">25-40cm of snow has fallen since Friday.  In the tree elevations, this storm snow is laying on top of a weaker snowpack.  Some soft slab development has occurred in the alpine but is isolated for the time being.  If the winds pick up and start to move the snow around, the wind slabs will develop and the hazard will increase in the alpine and open areas. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The region picked up 20 to 40 cm of snow Wednesday and Thursday with moderate winds out of the east/southeast. This adds to the 50 to 70 cm that fell earlier in the week. All of this snow rests on previously wind-affected surfaces and a sun crust on southerly aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cornices have formed on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow total last week is 50 to 90cm and has now mostly settled. This new snow has been redistributed into localized wind slabs. It covers old surfaces including faceted powder, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar on shady slopes. Around 70 to 110cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability to trigger yet will result as a high consequence avalanche if triggered. We are talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow, rocky terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow amounts from the last week total 50-80cm (higher amounts in the south and west parts of the region). This new snow has been redistributed into wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain by primarily south, southwest and southeast wind. 70-100cm below the surface there's a layer buried mid-February that's a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers that have shown signs of improving but still remain suspect as low probability - high consequence avalanche problems. We are talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary faceted snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall or smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Last weeks storms totaled 100cm of snow accumulation in parts of the region. This storm snow overlies various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and more isolated surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Also in the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 100 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects. Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Accumulated storm snow from last week totals 25-40cm. This new snow covers previously wind-scoured, westerly slopes and old hard and soft wind slabs on leeward, easterly alpine and treeline slopes. Beneath these old wind slabs lies a well-settled mid-pack. The lower snowpack is generally weak with two primary concerns that are widespread:</span></p><ul start="1" style="list-style-type:disc"><li value="1" class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></li><li value="2" class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></li></ul>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A thin sun crust has formed on solar aspects and the surface is wind affected in most exposed terrain. Last week's storms buried a weak layer composed of soft facets, surface hoar, and/or crust roughly 50-100 cm below the surface. This layer has produced whumpfing, sudden results in snowpack tests, and some remotely triggered avalanches. Lots of the activity has been on buried surface hoar on north aspects at upper treeline elevations. The snowpack is well settled and strong beneath this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A thin sun crust has formed on solar aspects and the surface is wind affected in most exposed terrain. Southern parts of the region, such as the Coquihalla, received up to 100 cm of snow last week while northern regions received closer to 40 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-February weak layers are now 80 to 120 cm deep in the southern part of the region and about 40 cm deep in northern parts of the region. These interfaces consists of wind hardened snow, facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. Some of these layers have been reactive in snowpack tests, but no recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface snow consists of thin sun crusts, soft faceted snow, and wind damaged snow on a range of aspects in exposed terrain. In sheltered areas at treeline and below, 20-30 cm of snow sits over a layer of surface hoar that has been reactive to skier traffic. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A few deeper interfaces may have been reactive during last week's storm, but have become much harder to trigger since. These include layers of sun crust, facets, and isolated surface hoar buried 50-100 cm below the surface. Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder and drier parts of the region, such as in the far north.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate to strong outflow winds have redistributed 50-70 cm of recent storm snow in exposed areas. This storm snow has buried old, hard wind affected snow in exposed areas as well as sun crusts or dry facets in sheltered terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar layer buried mid-January is now roughly 80-140 cm below the surface, and still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Facets at the base of the snowpack could also possibly be triggered from shallow snowpack areas.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Storm snow from the past week has been redistributed into wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain on most aspects. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar sitting above. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as having a low probability of triggering yet would produce a high consequence avalanche if they are triggered. We're talking about surface hoar layer buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow is settling and has been redistributed into slabs in wind-exposed terrain. Below this is a layer buried mid-February that presents as a sun crust on solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on sheltered slopes. This layer looks most concerning on on solar aspects where it's associated with with small facets or surface hoar above.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">There are several deeper layers in the mid-pack that have shown signs of improving but remain on the radar as a low probability to trigger, yet would produce a high consequence avalanche if triggered. We are talking about surface hoar buried back in December and January. Near the base of the snowpack is a November crust combined with loose sugary snow. These layers may &quot;wake-up&quot; with strong inputs such as sustained warming, sustained snowfall, large triggers (e.g. cornice fall, smaller avalanches coming down from above); human triggering is also possible in shallow snowpack areas with variable snow depth and convoluted terrain.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Isolated flurries have delivered sporadic and localized accumulations of new snow. Snowfall amounts from the past week are 40-60 cm with the exception of the Rossland area which received 80-100 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A mix of interfaces 50-100 cm below the surface will potentially remain reactive to human triggering and have given sudden results in recent snowpack tests. This includes small surface hoar on polar aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two deeper weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. Several surface hoar and facet layers are buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and there is a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for a few weeks and they are thought to have gone dormant at this time.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Today we skied up to Tent Ridge. It was fairly windy where we were and noticed the wind blowing in many of our ski areas. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">40cm of storm snow in the alpine has started to slab up with Sunday night and Monday's winds. These new slabs are reactive to skier traffic, especially on lee sides and cross loaded gullies. These new slabs overly harder buried wind slabs which produced moderate test results in the pit we dug today. The deeper persistent layers that are 80-180cm down were found but did not produce any test results. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Isolated flurries are depositing light amounts of new snow throughout the region and sporadic sunny breaks could weaken the surface snow. 50-70 cm of storm snow from last week is settling and gaining strength. On southerly aspects, the storm snow sits above a sun crust which is a potential sliding layer to monitor.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cornices have formed on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow continues to settle and dry out. Variable recent winds have left behind wind slabs on many slopes at treeline and above. These are expected to heal within a day or two. Direct sun is likely to weaken surface snow layers and give cornices a bit of an extra nudge too.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 50-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, this interface was most reactive on solar aspects, where it presents as a buried sun crust. However, it has been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with significant warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, a cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow continues to settle and dry out. Variable recent winds have left behind wind slabs on many slopes at treeline and above. These are expected to heal within a day or two. Direct sun is likely to weaken surface snow layers and give cornices a bit of an extra nudge too.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 50-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, this interface was most reactive on solar aspects, where it presents as a buried sun crust. However, it has been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with significant warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, a cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Last week's storms totaled 100cm of snow accumulation in parts of the region. This storm snow overlies various old surfaces including old hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and more isolated surface hoar. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 100 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects. Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December weak layer sits about 200 cm deep. This consists of a crust, facets or surface hoar. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer could be awoken from a thin-spot trigger point, or with a very large load like a cornice fall.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Accumulated storm snow from last week totals 25-40cm. This new snow covers previously wind-scoured, westerly slopes and old hard and soft wind slabs on leeward, easterly alpine and treeline slopes. Beneath these old wind slabs lies a well-settled mid-pack. The lower snowpack is generally weak with two primary concerns that are widespread:</span></p><ul start="1" style="list-style-type:disc"><li value="1" class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.</span></li><li value="2" class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.</span></li></ul>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A thin sun crust has formed on solar aspects and the surface is wind affected in most exposed terrain. Last week's storms buried a weak layer composed of soft facets, surface hoar, and/or crust that is roughly 50-100 cm below the surface. This layer has produced whumpfing, sudden results in snowpack tests, and some remotely triggered avalanches. Lots of the activity has been on buried surface hoar on north aspects at upper treeline elevations. The snowpack is well settled and strong beneath this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A thin sun crust has formed on solar aspects and the surface is wind affected in most exposed terrain. Southern parts of the region, such as the Coquihalla, received up to 100 cm of snow last week while northern regions received closer to 40 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The mid-February weak layers are now 80 to 120 cm deep in the southern part of the region and about 40 cm deep in northern parts of the region. These interfaces consists of wind hardened snow, facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. Some of these layers have been reactive in snowpack tests, but no recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface snow consists of thin sun crusts, sugary faceted snow, and wind pressed snow on a range of aspects in exposed terrain. In sheltered areas at treeline and below, 20-30 cm of snow sits over a layer of surface hoar that has been reactive to skier traffic in isolated locations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A few deeper interfaces may have been reactive during last week's storm, but are becoming less likely to human trigger. These include layers of sun crust, facets, and isolated surface hoar buried 50-100 cm below the surface. Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. Basal facets may be found near the bottom of the snowpack in colder and dryer parts of the region, such as in the far north.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Moderate to strong outflow winds have redistributed 50-70 cm of recent storm snow in exposed areas. This storm snow has buried hard wind affected snow in exposed areas as well as sun crusts or dry facets in sheltered terrain.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar layer buried mid-January is now roughly 80-140 cm below the surface, and still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">It is unlikely, but may still be possible to trigger very large avalanches on facets at the bottom of the snowpack in steep, rocky, and shallow snowpack areas or with large triggers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow continues to settle and dry out. Variable recent winds have left behind wind slabs on many slopes at treeline and above. These are expected to heal within a day or two. Direct sun is likely to weaken surface snow layers and give cornices a bit of an extra nudge too.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 50-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. </span><span class="s_3FE45715">Initially, this interface was most reactive on solar aspects, where it presents as a buried sun crust. However, it has been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with significant warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, a cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Recent storm snow continues to settle and dry out. Variable recent winds have left behind wind slabs on many slopes at treeline and above. These are expected to heal within a day or two. Direct sun is likely to weaken surface snow layers and give cornices a bit of an extra nudge too.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Persistent weak layers from early January and mid-December are still being reported by local operators. They are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with significant warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, a cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. They seem to be most concerning where they are associated with a sun crust on solar aspects. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Isolated flurries have delivered sporadic and localized accumulations of new snow. Snowfall amounts from the past week are 40-60 cm with the exception of the Rossland area which received 80-100 cm.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A mix of interfaces 50-100 cm below the surface will potentially remain reactive to human triggering and have given sudden results in recent snowpack tests. This includes small surface hoar on polar aspects and a sun crust on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Two deeper weak layers that formed in January and December are gradually gaining strength. Several surface hoar and facet layers are buried 1 to 2 m below the surface and there is a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack. No avalanches have been reported on these layers for a few weeks and they are thought to have gone dormant at this time.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The high alpine is experiencing stronger winds than expected. As expected, windslabs are a growing concern in the alpine. The question is are they reactive or not. We suspect yes- in certain places. Steep alpine slopes (35-40 degree plus) are suspect. The windslabs are also &quot;laminated&quot;. Meaning that there are multiple slabs stacked up on each other with possible weaknesses between them. Open areas at treeline are less suspect as the winds haven't touched that area yet. </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Isolated flurries are depositing light amounts of new snow throughout the region and sporadic sunny breaks could weaken the surface snow. 50-70 cm of snow from last week is settling and gaining strength. On southerly aspects, the storm snow sits above a sun crust which is a potential layer to monitor.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cornices have formed on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Solar aspects have developed new sun crusts, which new snow may sluff easily on. Recent storm snow continues to settle. A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 50-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Solar aspects have developed new sun crusts, which new snow may sluff easily on. Recent storm snow and wind slabs continue to settle. A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 50-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 15 cm of recent storm snow and sun crusts on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 100 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December and late November weak layers are composed of a combination of crusts and sugary facets which are down 200-300 cm. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">No recent avalanches have occurred on these persistent weak layers. However, the primary concern looking ahead towards the weekend and early next week is the potential of these deeper persistent weak layers becoming active by rapid warming of the snowpack through rising freezing levels and intense solar radiation.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Sun crusts on solar aspects with generally better riding conditions on north and east aspects. Accumulated storm snow from last week totals 25-40cm. This new snow covers previously wind-scoured, westerly slopes and old hard and soft wind slabs on leeward, easterly alpine and treeline slopes. Beneath these old wind slabs lies a well-settled mid-pack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally weak with the primary concern being a combination of crusts and facets near the bottom of the snowpack that are widespread. The primary concern looking ahead towards the weekend and early next week is the potential of these deeper persistent weak layers becoming active by rapid warming of the snowpack through rising freezing levels and intense solar radiation.</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">New snow will accumulate on Thursday and Friday and form extra deep deposits in wind loaded terrain. The new snow is falling on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on polar aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Last week's storms buried a weak layer composed of soft facets, surface hoar, and/or crust that is roughly 50-100 cm below the surface. This layer has produced whumpfing, sudden reactive results in snowpack tests, and some remotely triggered avalanches. Lots of the activity has been on buried surface hoar on north aspects at upper treeline elevations. The snowpack is well settled and strong beneath this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow will accumulate on Thursday and Friday and form extra deep deposits in wind loaded terrain. The new snow is falling on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on polar aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In northern parts of the region the mid-February weak layer is about 40 cm below the surface and has been reactive in some snowpack tests. The layer is composed of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. No recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The snowpack is well settled in southern parts of the region (e.g. Coquihalla and Manning Park).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface snow consists of thin sun crusts, sugary faceted snow, and wind pressed snow on a range of aspects in exposed terrain. In sheltered areas at treeline and below, 20-30 cm of snow sits over a layer of surface hoar that has been reactive to skier traffic in isolated locations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper/mid-pack you will likely find layers of crusts, facets, and isolated surface hoar buried 50-100 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down there is a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Sugary facets near the bottom of the snowpack would likely be found in colder and dryer parts of the region, such as the far north.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect to find sun crusts on steep solar aspects. The old wind slabs created over the weekend are faceting and becoming less reactive to human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar layer buried mid-January is now roughly 80-140 cm below the surface, and still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">It is unlikely, but may still be possible to trigger very large avalanches on facets at the bottom of the snowpack in steep, rocky, and shallow snowpack areas or with large triggers.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Solar aspects have developed new sun crusts which new snow may sluff easily on. Recent storm snow continues to settle. A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 50-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, this interface was most reactive on solar aspects, where it presents as a buried sun crust. However, it has been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Recent storm snow continues to settle and dry out. New wind slabs may build on Thursday lee to the south, at alpine and treeline elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Persistent weak layers from early January and mid-December are still being reported by local operators. They are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, a cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of new snow could accumulate by Thursday afternoon, with even deeper deposits possible at higher elevations. The new snow is falling on mostly unconsolidated snow from last week's storm and possibly on a sun crust on south-facing slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A mix of interfaces exist 50-100 cm below the surface, including small surface hoar on polar aspects and a crust on solar aspects. These layers have consistently been reactive in snowpack tests, suggesting they could potentially remain reactive to human triggers as well.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper weak layers that formed in January and December have gained strength and gone dormant at this time. They include several surface hoar and facet layers 1 to 2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">The winds are the most interesting part. We have had three days of moderate winds from the SW and tomorrow, they are calling for more winds from the West. This has created a wind slab that is 30-60cm deep and will be mostly found along lee features, and in cross loaded gullies.The hazard rating for the alpine is Considerable, mostly because of these new wind slabs. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Thursday will be the first warmish type day with freezing levels rising to 1800m or valley bottom of the Spray road.  The skiing has remained good at tree line and below.  </span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow will accumulate on Thursday and Friday and form extra deep deposits in wind loaded terrain. The new snow is falling on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on polar aspects, and an overall well settled snowpack.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Cornices have formed on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20 cm new snow has formed storm slabs and variable wind slabs, which overlie sun crusts on solar aspects. A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 60-120 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 10-20 cm new snow has formed storm slabs, which overlie over sun crusts on solar aspects. A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 40-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">10-15 cm of new snow on Thursday is sitting on a sun crust on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 100 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December and late November weak layers are composed of a combination of crusts and sugary facets which are down 200-300 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 10 cm of new snow on Thursday overlies sun crusts on solar aspects with generally better riding conditions on north and east aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is generally weak with the primary concern being a combination of crusts and facets near the bottom of the snowpack that are widespread. The primary concern looking ahead towards the weekend and early next week is the potential of these deeper persistent weak layers becoming active by rapid warming of the snowpack through rising freezing levels and intense solar radiation.</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">New snow accumulating on Thursday into Friday has been redistributed by southerly winds. This new snow sits on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on northerly aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Last week's storms buried a weak layer composed of soft facets, surface hoar, and/or crust that is roughly 50-100 cm below the surface. This layer has produced whumpfing, sudden results in snowpack tests, and some remotely triggered avalanches. Lots of the activity has been on buried surface hoar on north aspects at upper treeline elevations. The snowpack is well settled and strong beneath this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow accumulating on Thursday into Friday has been redistributed by southerly winds at upper elevations. The new snow sits on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on polar aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In northern parts of the region the mid-February weak layer is about 40 cm below the surface and has been reactive in some snowpack tests. The layer is composed of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. No recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers. The snowpack is well settled in southern parts of the region (e.g. Coquihalla and Manning Park).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface snow consists of thin sun crusts, sugary faceted snow, and wind pressed snow on a range of aspects in exposed terrain. In sheltered areas at treeline and below, 20-30 cm of snow sits over a layer of surface hoar that has been reactive to skier traffic in isolated locations. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper/mid-pack you will likely find layers of crusts, facets, and isolated surface hoar buried 50-100 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down there is a crust/surface hoar layer from January which still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Sugary facets near the bottom of the snowpack would likely be found in colder and dryer parts of the region, such as the far north.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect to find sun crusts on steep solar aspects. The old wind slabs created over the weekend are faceting and becoming less reactive to human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar layer buried mid-January is now roughly 80-140 cm below the surface, and still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">It is unlikely, but may still be possible to trigger very large avalanches on facets at the bottom of the snowpack in steep, rocky, and shallow snowpack areas or with large triggers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20 cm new snow has formed storm slabs and variable thin wind slabs which overlie sun crusts on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 50-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span><span class="s_3FE45715" /></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20 cm new snow has formed storm slabs and variable thin wind slabs.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Persistent weak layers from early January and mid-December are still being reported by local operators. They are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, a cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-25cm of new snow is forecast to fall Thursday into Friday morning. This new snow sits on mostly unconsolidated snow from last week and possibly on a sun crust on south-facing slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A mix of weak layers exist 50-100 cm below the surface, including small surface hoar on polar aspects and a crust on solar aspects. These layers have consistently been reactive in snowpack tests, suggesting they could potentially remain reactive to human triggers as well. Deeper weak layers that formed in January and December have gained strength and gone dormant at this time. They include several surface hoar and facet layers 1 to 2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">We skied into the Pocaterra ridge area near Highwood Pass today. There was 5-10cm of new snow from last night. The wind slabs from the recent westerly winds can be found mostly on the lee of ridges and on cross loaded features. There was some sun crust that formed on solar aspects. Cornices are starting to be on our radar and this will be more of a concern as the temperatures start to warm up this weekend.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow accumulating through Thursday into Friday at upper elevations will form deep deposits in wind loaded terrain. This new snow sits on a sun crust or moist snow on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on northerly aspects, and an overall well settled snowpack. Cornices have formed on many alpine ridge lines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20-30 cm of new snow has formed new storm slabs which overlie sun crusts on solar aspects. This latest snow sits on well-settled storm snow from regular snowfalls over the past couple of weeks. Several other sun crust layers may be found within this storm snow on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 70-120 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 10-15 cm new snow has formed storm slabs that overlie a sun crusts on solar aspects. A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 40-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets also linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-30 cm of new snow is sitting on a sun crust on solar aspects. Cornices are large and prone to failure over the weekend caused by forecast sunny skies.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar or facet layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 110 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December and late November weak layers are composed of a combination of crusts and sugary facets which are down 200-300 cm.  These layers have been dormant but may be awoken by the warm and sunny weather over the weekend or by a large trigger such as a falling cornice.</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 new snow overlies sun crusts on solar aspects. Cornices are large and prone to failure over the weekend due to forecast sunny skies and rising freezing levels.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The upper/mid-pack is generally well settled and strong.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is weak with a combination of crusts and facets near the bottom of the snowpack that are widespread. The primary concern looking ahead towards the weekend and early next week is the potential of these deeper persistent weak layers becoming active by rapid warming of the snowpack through rising freezing levels and intense solar radiation.</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 new snow has been redistributed by by strong west and south winds. This new snow sits on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on northerly aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Last week's storms buried a weak layer composed of soft facets, surface hoar, and/or crust that is roughly 50-100 cm below the surface. This layer has produced whumpfing, sudden results in snowpack tests, and some remotely triggered avalanches. Lots of the activity has been on buried surface hoar on north aspects at upper treeline elevations. The snowpack is well settled and strong beneath this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow accumulating on Thursday and Friday has been redistributed by southerly winds at upper elevations. The new snow sits on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on polar aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In northern parts of the region the mid-February weak layer is about 40 cm below the surface and has been reactive in some snowpack tests. The layer is composed of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. No recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers. The snowpack is well settled in southern parts of the region (e.g. Coquihalla and Manning Park).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Surface snow consists of sun crusts on solar aspects and surface hoar growth averaging 5 mm on sheltered, shady aspects extending into the alpine in some areas. A layer of small surface hoar (5 mm) buried in late February has been reported in isolated locations at treeline and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper/mid-pack you will likely find layers of crusts, facets, and isolated surface hoar buried 50-100 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down there is a crust/surface hoar layer from January. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Sugary facets near the bottom of the snowpack would likely be found in colder and dryer parts of the region, such as the far north.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect to find sun crusts on steep solar aspects. The old wind slabs created last weekend are faceting and becoming less reactive to human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar layer buried mid-January is now roughly 80-140 cm below the surface, and still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">It is unlikely, but may be possible to trigger very large avalanches on facets at the bottom of the snowpack in steep, rocky, and shallow snowpack areas or with large triggers.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-30 cm of new snow has formed storm slabs which overlie sun crusts on solar aspects. This latest snow sits on well-settled storm snow from regular snowfalls over the past couple of weeks. Several other sun crust layers may be found within this storm snow on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A couple of layers buried in mid to late February (down around 60-110 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Thursday's storm brought 20-30 cm of new snow by Friday morning. This new snow overlies well-settled storm snow from regular snowfalls over the past couple of weeks. Although several layers of sun crust can be found within this storm snow on solar aspects, recent snowpack tests have not been producing concerning results in the upper snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Persistent weak layers from early January and mid-December are still being reported by local operators. They are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, a cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. A weak layer of facets also lingers at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">15-35cm of new snow has been redistributed by predominantly west and southwest wind and sits on mostly unconsolidated snow from last week and possibly on a sun crust on south-facing slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A mix of weak layers exist 50-100 cm below the surface, including small surface hoar on shady aspects and a crust on solar aspects. These layers have consistently been reactive in snowpack tests, suggesting they could potentially remain reactive to human triggers as well. Deeper weak layers that formed in January and December have gained strength and gone dormant at this time. They include several surface hoar and facet layers 1 to 2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Today is the first day in a long time that temperatures on the Spray went above 0C. The freezing level reached 2200m for a short period this afternoon. While not a huge input of heat, many solar aspects now have a surface crust. The alpine and treeline windslabs are improving with the moderate temperatures. The relative warmth is helping the various layers bond. Despite the rising temps, we did see a few cm of new snow today from flurries blowing through the area.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 45cm of new snow at upper elevations accumulating Thursday and Friday has begun to settle and bond and has been redistributed by southerly winds. This new snow sits on a sun crust or moist snow on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on northerly aspects, and an overall well settled snowpack. Thursday's precipitation fell as rain below 1200m where the surface snow is either wet or presents as a crust.Cornices have formed on many alpine ridge lines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 20-30 cm of new snow has formed new storm slabs which overlie sun crusts on solar aspects. This latest snow sits on well-settled storm snow from regular snowfalls over the past couple of weeks. Several other sun crust layers may be found within this storm snow on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 70-120 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Around 10-15 cm new snow has formed storm slabs that overlie a sun crusts on solar aspects. A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 40-100 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets also linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-30 cm of recent storm snow is settling rapidly.  This new snow is sitting on a sun crust on solar aspects. Cornices are large and prone to failure over the weekend caused by forecast sunny skies.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper to mid snowpack, a surface hoar or facet layer buried mid-February is now 80 to 110 cm below the surface on sheltered northerly aspects. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, the widespread mid-December and late November weak layers are composed of a combination of crusts and sugary facets which are down 200-300 cm. These layers have been dormant but may be awoken by the warm and sunny weather throughout the weekend or by a large trigger such as a falling cornice.</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 recent storm is rapidly settling. This snow overlies decomposing previous storm snow, old wind slabs, and sun crust on solar aspects. Cornices are large and prone to failure over the weekend due to forecast sunny skies and rising freezing levels.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The upper/mid-pack is generally well settled and strong.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">The lower snowpack is weak with a combination of crusts and facets near the bottom of the snowpack that are widespread. The primary concern looking ahead is the potential of these deeper persistent weak layers becoming active by rapid warming of the snowpack through rising freezing levels and intense solar radiation. This is most likely to occur on steep south facing slopes.</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 new snow has been redistributed by by strong west and south winds. This new snow sits on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on northerly aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations. The surface snow is reported to be moist on all aspects to 1800m and to mountain top on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Last week's storms buried a weak layer composed of soft facets, surface hoar, and/or crust that is roughly 50-100 cm below the surface. This layer has produced whumpfing, sudden results in snowpack tests, and some remotely triggered avalanches. Lots of the activity has been on buried surface hoar on north aspects at upper treeline elevations. The snowpack is well settled and strong beneath this interface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on many ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and when they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">New snow accumulating on Thursday and Friday has been redistributed by southerly winds at upper elevations. The new snow sits on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on polar aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In northern parts of the region the mid-February weak layer is about 40 cm below the surface and has been reactive in some snowpack tests. The layer is composed of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. No recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers. The snowpack is well settled in southern parts of the region (e.g. Coquihalla and Manning Park).</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 20 cm of new snow covers sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar averaging 5 mm, but found up to 20 mm, on sheltered, shady aspects extending into the alpine in some areas. A layer of small surface hoar (5 mm) buried in late February has been reported in isolated locations at treeline and below.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">In the upper/mid-pack you will likely find layers of crusts, facets, and isolated surface hoar buried 50-100 cm below the surface. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper in the snowpack, around 150-200 cm down there is a crust/surface hoar layer from January. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Sugary facets near the bottom of the snowpack would likely be found in colder and dryer parts of the region, such as the far north.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Expect to find sun crusts on steep solar aspects. The old wind slabs created last weekend are faceting and becoming less reactive to human triggers.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A crust/surface hoar layer buried mid-January is now roughly 80-140 cm below the surface, and still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like a cornice fall.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">It is unlikely, but may be possible to trigger very large avalanches on facets at the bottom of the snowpack in steep, rocky, and shallow snowpack areas or with large triggers such as a falling cornice.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">20-30 cm of new snow has formed storm slabs which overlie sun crusts on solar aspects. This latest snow sits on well-settled storm snow from regular snowfalls over the past couple of weeks. Several other sun crust layers may be found within this storm snow on solar aspects.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A couple of layers buried in mid to late February (down around 60-110 cm) are variably reactive, but both have the potential to create surprisingly large avalanches if triggered. Initially, these interfaces were most reactive on solar aspects, where they present as buried sun crusts. However, persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects too, where surface hoar and/or facets exist.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets linger at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Thursday's storm brought 20-30 cm of new snow by Friday morning. This new snow overlies well-settled storm snow from regular snowfalls over the past couple of weeks. Although several layers of sun crust can be found within this storm snow on solar aspects, recent snowpack tests have not been producing concerning results in the upper snowpack. </span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Persistent weak layers from early January and mid-December are still being reported by local operators. They are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with forecast warming, a surface avalanche stepping down, a cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. A weak layer of facets also lingers at the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Friday's 15-35cm of new snow has settled and been redistributed by predominantly west and southwest wind and sits on mostly unconsolidated snow from last week and on a sun crust on south-facing slopes.</span></p><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">A mix of weak layers exist 50-100 cm below the surface, including small surface hoar on shady aspects and a crust on solar aspects. These layers have consistently been reactive in snowpack tests, suggesting they could potentially remain reactive to human triggers as well. Deeper weak layers that formed in January and December have gained strength and gone dormant at this time. They include several surface hoar and facet layers 1 to 2 m below the surface and a crust/ facet interface near the base of the snowpack.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_AA239A9B">Wind slabs of various densities are present in Alpine and Treeline areas on lee and cross-loaded features. Moist snow on steep solar aspects in the Alpine and on all aspects except polar below 2100m. The snowpack is settling.</span></p>
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</style><p class="p_CC664AAA"><span class="s_3FE45715">Up to 45cm of new snow at upper elevations accumulating Thursday and Friday has settled, bonded and/or been redistributed by southerly winds. This new snow sits on a sun crust or moist snow on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on northerly aspects, and an overall well settled snowpack. Thursday's precipitation fell as rain below 1200m where the surface snow is either wet or presents as a crust. Cornices have formed on many alpine ridge lines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.</span></p>