Relatively light amounts of new snow may form wind slabs behind exposed features. These could become touchy if they are kissed by the sun on south aspect slopes.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Clearing following some light snow overnight. Winds northeasterly 10-15 km/h. Treeline temperatures around -6C.MONDAY: Dry and sunny. Winds northeasterly 15-25 km/h. Temperatures around -10C.TUESDAY: Dry and sunny. Winds northeasterly 15-25 km/h. Temperatures around -12C.
Avalanche Summary
Several avalanches were reported from this region on Thursday during the most recent storm, but activity has subsided since then. Avalanche danger will briefly increase with the next small pulse of snow and wind but will improve rapidly again with the cold, stable weather expected to follow.
Snowpack Summary
Light amounts from the storm Saturday night add to previous storm totals of around 100 cm in the North Shore mountains. The storm snow is reported to have bonded well with the underlying snow, and is now generally stable, although wind slabs on steep slopes in exposed areas remain a concern. A crust that formed a week ago is likely down over 1 m, but recent avalanches were not reported to have run on the crust layer. Below this crust, the snowpack is generally considered well settled and stable.
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.