South Coast and Vancouver Island Weather: The Arctic influence pushed south and west for a change over the weekend. Temperatures in coastal mountain areas dropped to range between highs of about -4 to lows of -15. The Arctic air mass is now slowly moving eastward, and coastal regions will already be seeing the first of the next Pacific disturbances arriving for this week. Several fronts from a developing low off the northern coast will start to cross the province today, and slide in a southeasterly direction. Snowpack: The well consolidated mid and lower pack has further tightened up with the cooling temps, but strong reverse winds associated with the arctic surge created newly wind loaded slopes. Wind-slabs remaining from last weeks westerly systems are still a concern along with the additional loading from recent northeasterly winds. Shears are occurring in layer interfaces of new snow crystals that have not bonded sufficiently yet. With the cold temperatures lately, the bonding process will have been further slowed or even reversed. Surface hoar has been observed developing. Avalanches: Numerous size 1-2 slabs have been reported occurring on N and S-SE aspects. Some of these slabs are occurring naturally, but some were skier triggered while testing the snow on short safe rolls not exposed to slopes above. Meanwhile in the Whistler area, there are also reports of several close calls with accidental triggered wind-slabs to size 2, as well as one person completely buried (50cm burial), rescued by partner, fortunately no injuries, adjacent to Whistler ski area. Danger: Above Treeline: CONSIDERABLE Below Treeline: LOW Travel Advisory: Continue to be wary of the wind action up high and near treeline. The colder temps we have experienced lately will have slowed the often faster rate of improvement in the upper layers of the snowpack. North Columbia Region Weather: As the Arctic air mass slowly retreats eastward, renewed Pacific frontal systems will bring snow once again to the northern interior regions. Temperature's ranging from -4 to -24 have been reported across the area through the weekend. Light snow from the initial westerly frontal system is forecast today, with a break tomorrow, and then a renewed Pacific flow of air by mid week. Snowpack: Last weeks storm snow has been slower to settle with the colder temperatures present from the arctic influence. Wind-slabs at higher elevations are the most common concern at this time. While most observers and reports confirm that the snowpack is overall very settled and consolidated in most areas for the time of season, some layer concerns remain. Many tests are showing good bonding of older unstable layer boundaries, but hard shears are still showing up occasionally in layers of slower to break down new snow crystals, and surface hoar in occasional places. The cold temps seen recently has faceted last weeks storm snow, causing it to be less settled and more available for wind transport. Avalanches: Most activity noted has been occurring in the unsettled new snow. Numerous point releases up to size 1.5, and some wind-slabs ski cut or triggered at a distance in 10-30cm depth. One release of note in the Blue River area, was a natural release size 2.5, SW aspect above treeline, 200-250cm thick and 80m wide that broke to ground. Those keep you thinking and looking. Danger: Above Treeline: CONSIDERABLE Below Treeline: MODERATE Travel Advisory: While the snowpack is looking generally very good, problem areas can show up around many corners at this time of the season. Wind-slabs continue to be the most important current concern, but with the last several days of cold temps and some surface hoar development, new snow loading on the old surface is likely to become the next prominent instability. South Columbia Region Weather: Change in systems will occur over the next few days as the Arctic air pulls back in the advance of a new Pacific frontal system. Light to moderate snowfall is forecast for South Columbia regions today and tomorrow. A surface ridge to the north on Tuesday, will likely not push into the South Columbia's, so the westerly flow of systems may be further squeezed along the southern edge of the colder High resulting in increased snowfall for some areas. Warmer temps can be expected with the arrival of the Pacific air. Snowpack: Reports on the snowpack in the south are similar to that of the North Columbia. Generally very settled mid and lower pack, with faceting occurring in the surface layers and large, light stellar crystals forming a thin blanket over some areas during the last few days. Surface Hoar has been observed forming in many areas, especially where fog bands along valley sides has provided increased moisture levels for this crystal formation. Soft wind-slabs were observed in many areas from last weeks storm snow, and wind deposits found on opposite aspects to normal were noted due to the arctic outflow winds. Avalanches: Wind-slabs to size 3.0 brought out by explosives in Kootenay Pass area. Sluffing in steep terrain of the surface layers, and observation of sun exposed release on steep south terrain. Natural slab activity reportedly slowed down during the past couple of days. Danger: Above Treeline: CONSIDERABLE (remaining wind-slabs and arrival of new precip) Below Treeline: MODERATE Travel Advisory: It's been pretty good lately, especially in the trees and out of wind exposed terrain. But the next snowfalls are about to arrive on top of some poorer surface conditions. Watch these layers and check out the bonding using snowpack observation techniques and tests. We're now into the mid winter transition - people starting to push a bit more with the longer days - watch that. Rockies Region Weather: Cold, cold like we are more used to. Odd how -15 to -25 seems colder when it's been balmy most of the winter to date. The Arctic air should travel north and eastward a bit now that the Pacific flow is pushing eastward again. The Rockies may not see much in the way of snowfall earlier this week as the fronts battle it out over BC, but the Pacific flow is forecast to overcome the gradually retreating Arctic air mass. Light snowfall to some areas, increasing potentially by mid week. Minus 27 was reported down as far south as the Fernie area. Snowpack: As elsewhere the predominant instability lately has been wind-slabs. The lower pack in many areas is well consolidated for the Rockies, but plenty of shallow areas still exist with faceted snow. The recent period of cold air will have only increased faceting in problem areas. The existence of extensive variable depth of coverage snowpack areas has been observed by probing. Wind-slabs deceptively bridge over and mask this variable pack in many areas above treeline. Avalanches: Less natural wind-slab activity, but sluffing of loose surface snow observed in places. Some shallow skier triggered and explosive control work in the ski areas the major note recently. The Sunshine area saw 2 skier involvement's during the past week with releases to ground. In the Jasper area activity has been more widespread, and Alpine areas especially have seen natural slab activity mainly of the storm snow layers. Fernie Ski area has explosive triggered several size 1.5 - 3 releases, average 40cm. deep, but the deepest to 150cm in a pocket with a SE aspect at 1950m. Danger: Above treeline: CONSIDERABLE Below Treeline: LOW Travel Advisory: Good conditions exist throughout many areas, but equally - those you want to steer clear of. As always, every backcountry traveler must consider the conditions and assess the dangers themselves. Appropriate terrain and route choices under the current conditions is key.