Stormy weather will create the potential for slab avalanches in wind affected terrain.
Strong wind from the southwest will blow new snow into slabs that will be possible to trigger near ridgetops and in alpine terrain.
MONDAY NIGHT: Flurries overnight bring 5-10 cm of snow above 1000 m in southern parts of the region and up to 5 cm in northern parts of the region, 60-80 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine temperatures around -3 C.
TUESDAY: Scattered flurries with 5-10 cm of snow above 1200 m, 60-90 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -2 C.
WEDNESDAY: 10-30 cm of snow above 1000 m, 30-50 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.
THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, 20 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.
Minimal avalanche activity has been reported over the past week as the snowpack is generally thin and the weather has been benign. Some parts of the region could receive enough new snow over the next few days to form slabs at higher elevations. The greatest concern will be in wind affected terrain and where the snow falls onto smooth surfaces (such as glaciers, rock slabs, and areas where there is already enough snow to cover rocks and trees).
Less snow will make its way into the South Coast Inland region than areas closer to the coast. 10-20 cm of new snow is possible by Tuesday afternoon, which will cover firm wind pressed snow and hard crusts. Even with this new snow, snowpack depths will remain quite thin throughout the region. Current snowpack depths are around 50 cm at upper treeline elevations, with many rocks and trees sticking out at lower elevations. In the alpine you can find slightly deeper pockets where wind has formed hard wind slabs.
