Regions
South Coast Inland.
The forecast calls for a cloudy day. If the sun comes out it will increase the potential for triggering loose wet avalanches.
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Few clouds, moderate east winds, alpine temperature of -5 C, freezing level at 1500 mTHURSDAY: Cloudy with a trace of snow accumulation, light to moderate easterly winds, alpine temperature of -4 C, freezing level 1800 m FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northerly winds, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 2000 mSATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light southerly winds, alpine temperature -1 C, freezing level 2100 m
Avalanche Summary
In the north of the region on Tuesday a natural size 2 loose wet avalanche and a skier triggered size 1 wind slab avalanche on a northerly aspect were reported. On Monday loose wet avalanche activity up to size 2 was reported on solar aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10 cm of recent snow at upper elevations is bonding well with a variety of snow layers underneath. On higher north aspects above 2000 m it may sit on some dry, faceted snow and/or isolated old wind slabs. At most other places the new snow is sitting on either moist snow or a crust. There are still a handful of melt/freeze crusts, surface hoar and facets in the upper snowpack, but all of these layers appear to have gone dormant for the time being. The snowpack at mid and upper elevations is gaining strength in consecutive nights with below freezing temperatures.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.