Northwest Coastal

15-20 cm of forecast snow and strong west winds on Wednesday night are expected to form fresh storm slabs which will be most reactive in wind affected terrain. 

Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Snow; 15-20 cm (rain below ~700 m) / Strong, west wind / Low of -1 / Freezing level rising to 1000 m.

THURSDAY: Flurries; 3-5 cm / Strong, west wind / High of 1 / Freezing level 1100 m.

FRIDAY: Flurries; 3-5 cm, and another 10-15 cm overnight / Strong, southwest wind / High of 2 / Freezing level 1200 m.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 3-5 cm / Light, west wind / High of -1 / Freezing level 700 m.

Fresh storm slabs are expected to form at all elevations Wednesday night and will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

15-20 cm of forecast snow and strong west winds on Wednesday night is expected to form fresh storm slabs sitting on a thick rain crust at all elevations. The slabs will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

The 10-30 cm thick rain crust makes human triggering of avalanches on weak layers deeper in the snowpack very unlikely.

However, cornices overhead are a primary concern during sunny, warm, or windy conditions. Cornice failures can trigger very large persistent slab avalanches that would otherwise be difficult to human trigger.

• Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
• Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
• Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
• Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.
• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.