Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Wind slabs formed by strong outflow winds may be reactive on Monday. Use added caution and choose conservative routes, particularly where wind effect is observed.
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, strong to extreme northeast wind, alpine temperature -18 C.MONDAY: Clear skies, moderate northeast wind, alpine temperature -12 C.TUESDAY: Clear skies with afternoon clouds, light to moderate north wind, alpine temperature -6 C.WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with light snowfall, light northwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C.
Avalanche Summary
Wind slabs and storm slabs were reactive to skier traffic on Saturday, generally producing small avalanches. See here for an example.
Snowpack Summary
Strong north to east wind redistributed the 40 cm of recent storm snow, which has created wind slabs in lee and cross-loaded terrain features. This snow overlies wind-affected surfaces in the high alpine and a thick melt-freeze crust at and below treeline.In the south of the region, the remainder of the snowpack is well-settled.Around Bear Pass and in the north of the region, you may find two or three weak layers of feathery surface hoar crystals between 50 and 100 cm deep. These weak layers are likely most prominent in sheltered and shaded terrain. Also in the north of the region, the base of the snowpack may be composed of weak and sugary faceted snow.
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.