Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
South Coast.
Winter still hasn't loosened its grip at higher elevations. Conditions remain dynamic as yet another storm rolls through the region.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Saturday night: Periods of snow bringing 15-25 cm of new snow to higher elevations. Moderate to strong southwest winds.Sunday: Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing approximately 5 cm of new snow. Light south winds. Freezing level to 1400 metres with alpine temperatures of -4.Monday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light southeast winds. Freezing level to 1700 metres with alpine temperatures of -3.Tuesday: Cloudy with flurries bringing 10-15 cm of new snow to higher elevations. Moderate south winds. Freezing level to 1600 metres with alpine temperatures of -4.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported, but there have been limited observations lately.Please enter your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN). See here for details.
Snowpack Summary
Moderate snowfall and winds will form fresh storm slabs on the surface at higher elevations over Saturday night. Below the new snow, Friday's warm temperatures and sunshine moistened surface snow on most aspects and elevations. New snow will form a variable bond with this surface, with a weaker bond expected at higher elevations and northerly aspects where a surface crust may have formed in advance of new snow accumulations. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.