Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
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 Inland.
Moist and mild weather is finally returning but it looks as though the Northwest will be the last region to see the transition. Conditions should start to change significantly by early next week.
Confidence
Poor - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Friday: Increasing cloud with snow likely later in the day (5-10 cm by Saturday morning). The freezing level remains near valley bottom. Winds should be moderate (20-30 km/h) from the S-SE. Saturday: Cloudy with flurries. The freezing level starts to slowly climb to around 500 m and ridge winds are moderate from the SW. Sunday: Cloudy with a chance of flurries. The freezing level is around 500 m but we could see an inversion form (warmer as you go up). Winds remain moderate from the SW.
Avalanche Summary
There are no new avalanche reports from the region. Please let us know what you're seeing out there. Email us at [email protected].
Snowpack Summary
We are still working with very few field observations from this region. This forecast is primarily based off weather station data and a few field observations.Recent reports describe a shallow, highly variable, and wind affected snowpack with an average snow depth of 60 to 100 cm. In sheltered areas you might find 20-30 cm of dry facetted snow sitting on a crust at treeline, and 30 cm above the crust in the alpine. Extensive wind effect has either scoured down to the crust or created pockets of wind slab in open terrain in the alpine and at treeline.
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.