Regions
Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Fair - Due to limited field observations for the entire period
Weather Forecast
Tuesday and Wednesday: Light to moderate westerly winds and short-lived disturbances delivering light amounts of snow each day, especially on the west (upslope) side of the ranges. Freezing level should remain near valley bottoms. Thursday: Moderate snowfall possible as a strong frontal system makes it way inland.
Avalanche Summary
Recent observations include some natural avalanche activity in the Hankin area on Sunday on North and East aspects at treeline and alpine elevations. Slabs ranged in thickness from 20cm to 50cm and the avalanches were not running very far.
Snowpack Summary
I suspect pockets of wind slab behind ridges & ribs at alpine and treeline elevations. I also suspect storm slabs on steeper terrain, unsupported slopes, or convex rolls. Deeper in the snowpack is a layer of facets (sugary snow) which formed during the cold mid-January drought. The combination of newer, warmer, cohesive snow above a thin, weak, rotten snowpack is a bad combination.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.