Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Friday
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Light snowfall / Moderate southwest winds / Freezing level at 1000mFriday: Heavy snowfall (moderate snowfall in the north of the region) / Strong southwest winds / Freezing level at 1000mSaturday: Light snowfall / Light southwest winds / Freezing level at 800m
Avalanche Summary
In recent days, sporadic glide releases to size 3 occurred in response to warming on the steep, smooth rock slabs on the Coquihalla. No other recent activity was noted.
Snowpack Summary
Dribs and drabs of snowfall in the Duffey Lake area and up on the Coquihalla have been redistributed into wind slabs at higher elevations. On shaded slopes the recent snow may overlie surface hoar which was buried on February 12th. Recent snowpack tests have shown sudden planar fracture characteristics at this interface. This interface may be the one to watch with additional loading forecast for Friday. On solar aspects and at lower elevations a melt freeze crust is likely to exist.Below this there are a few buried interfaces which include crusts, facets and surface hoar. These interfaces are gaining strength but it's worth digging down and testing these layers before committing to a steep line.The mid and lower snowpack pack layers are generally well settled.
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.