Windy weather is forecast with passage of a cold front on Monday. Recent snow sits over a hard crust and can be most likely triggered in areas of freshly wind deposited snow.
Strong southwest winds are forecast at all elevations Monday. The recent snow sits above a hard crust and could remain triggerable where wind deposits exist.
Sunday night: Light snow, around 5 cm. Freezing level 1100 m. Moderate southwest wind increasing to strong at all elevations.
Monday: Light snow, around 5 cm. Freezing level 1300 m. Strong southwest winds affecting all elevations.
Tuesday: Light snow, around 5 cm overnight then clearing. Freezing level 500 m. Light southwest wind.
Wednesday: Mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level rising to 1200 m. Light southwest wind.
On Thursday, skier triggered storm slab avalanches size 1-2 were reported on all aspects. The new snow is sitting on a hard rain crust and may remain reactive to human triggers; especially in wind loaded features.
Around 5 cm of new snow brings recent snow totals to 20-30 cm on top of a hard rain crust that exists all the way to the tops of the North Shore mountains. Reports indicate that the snow is adhering well to the crust. Reactivity at this interface is most likely where snow is wind affected. Watch for blowing snow and wind slab formation at all elevations Monday, as strong winds are forecast for all elevations.
The snowpack below the rain crust is well settled and strong in most areas.
Watch North Shore Rescue's latest snowpack update here.
