New snowfall over the day will fall with strong winds. Expect to find wind slabs in lee terrain features.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, moderate to strong westerly winds, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1500 m.SATURDAY: Sunny with a few clouds, light easterly winds, alpine temperature -15 C, freezing level 700 m.SUNDAY: Increasing clouds with light snowfall, moderate southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1500 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, small to large (size 1 to 3) wind slabs were triggered naturally, generally on northerly to easterly aspects, in alpine terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs exist on all aspects in exposed terrain, produced from variable wind directions that redistributed last weekend’s storm snow. In sheltered locations, expect to find dry snow in shady areas or wet snow on southerly aspects. This snow overlies a crust found up to 2200 metres. On shaded aspects at treeline in parts of the region, a layer of surface hoar is found about 40 cm down.The midpack is well-settled and strong, which overlies sugary facets in thin snowpack areas.
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.