Northwest Coastal

Strong southerly wind and continued snowfall Saturday night into Sunday are expected to form fresh storm slabs that rest on a widespread crust. The best riding and highest danger are expected to overlap on high elevation north facing features.

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

The weather models are having a pretty tough time getting a handle on the current pattern and the region received less precipitation than anticipated Friday night. Saturday nights precipitation will likely be heaviest in the southern portion of the region, but continue to take the wind and precipitation values as suggestions, some places may not get any snow while others receive 20+ cm of convective snow.SATURDAY NIGHT: Freezing level around 1500 m, moderate to strong south/southeast wind, trace to 20 cm of snow. SUNDAY: Overcast, freezing level around 1200 m, strong south/southwest wind, 2 to 8 cm of snow possible.MONDAY: Overcast, freezing level holding around 1200 m, moderate to strong south/southwest wind, 1 to 5 cm of snow.TUESDAY: Overcast, freezing level holding around 1200 m, moderate south/southwest wind, 1 to 5 cm of snow.

On Friday loose wet avalanches to size 1 were reported as storm snow slid on the April 4th crust. A few natural size 1 to 1.5 wind slabs were reported Saturday morning. If you're out this weekend we'd love it if you would submit what you're seeing to the Mountain Information Network.

10 to 40 cm of storm snow now rests on a weak layer buried April 4th which consists of crust, surface hoar and facets. The crust is widespread and up to 4 cm thick. Spotty surface hoar and facets have been reported on top of the crust on high elevation north facing slopes. Strong wind generally out of the south Friday night likely formed fresh slabs that may be sensitive to human triggering this weekend.North facing alpine terrain also has a layer of facets down 40 to 100 cm below the surface, but this layer has not been recently active and is likely trending towards dormancy.Below treeline the snowpack is isothermal throughout much of the forecast region.