Confidence
Good - Track of incoming weather is uncertain on Thursday
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Freezing Level: 500m in the morning increasing to near 1000m in the afternoon. Wind: Light NE, No significant precip.Wednesday: Freezing Level: 250m increasing to 800 in the afternoon. Wind: Light SW. No significant precip.Thursday: Freezing Level: 500m increasing slightly during the day. Wind initially light SW increasing to strong SW in the afternoon. 10 - 15 cm of snow expected during the day.
Avalanche Summary
More sluffing to size 1 within the recent storm snow was reported on Sunday. Isolated small soft slabs near ridgecrest continue to be sensitive to skier triggering.
Snowpack Summary
Relatively small pockets of wind slab which exist at higher elevations are expected to be mostly unreactive. but may be triggered by skiers in isolated pieces of terrain near ridge crest. In shaded areas at treeline and below the new snow may overlie surface hoar which is reported to be reactive in the Meager Group (upper Lillooet). Several crusts can be found in the snowpack, especially on solar aspects; however, reports indicate these interfaces have settled out fairly rapidly in most areas. The mid and lower snowpack layers are generally strong and well settled.Total snow depths vary from around 400 cm in the south to around 180 cm in the north.
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.