Warm temperature, new precipitation and high wind will continue to develop wind slabs and increase the avalanche danger throughout the day.
Wind slabs will continue to develop with new snow and strong southerly wind. Expect to find them in steep, lee terrain features near ridges.
An unstable onshore flow will give flurries to the BC coast with showers below 1500 metres.
SUNDAY NIGHT: A few clouds, no precipitation, 70-80 km/h south wind, treeline temperature +3 C with freezing level at 2200 m.
MONDAY: Periods of snow and rain beginning in the morning, accumulation 20 to 30 cm above 1500 m and rain below, 60-80 southwest wind, treeline temperature +2 C.
TUESDAY: Snow and rain mixed, accumulation 15 to 25 cm, 70-90 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature +3 C with freezing level at 1700 m.
WEDNESDAY: Rain, accumulation 20-40 mm, 70-80 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature +4 C with freezing level at 2500 m.
Several wind slab avalanches were triggered naturally, by riders, and explosives in the last few days. They were generally 30 to 40 cm deep, on north aspects, and at treeline elevations. Below 1200 m, small pinwheels were observed out of steep terrain from Thursday night's rain.
We'd appreciate any observations while you are out travelling on the Mountain Information Network.
Wind slabs may still be found in steep, lee terrain features, which formed from recent 40 to 60 cm of snow and strong southeast to southwest wind. The snow surface below about 1200 m consists of a hard melt-freeze crust from recent rain. This overlies 100+ cm of snow that accumulated since January 1, which reports suggest is bonding well to the snowpack.
The middle and base of the snowpack are strong, consisting of well-bonded snow and various hard melt-freeze crusts.
