Regions
South Coast Inland.
Wind affected snow at upper elevations is the primary concern. Shooting cracks and whumphing are good indicators of wind slabs.
Confidence
High - The weather pattern is stable
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures near -8 and ridgetop winds light from the northeast.THURSDAY: The southern part of the region including the Coquihalla and Alison Pass area will likely see cloudy skies and snow amounts 5-10 cm. A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries is forecast for the DuffyFRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Trace of new snow and alpine temperatures near -10. Ridgetop winds light from the northeast.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, reports indicted no recent slab avalanche activity and isolated sluffing from steeper terrain features. On Saturday, several small (size 1) wind slabs were triggered in northern parts of the region. Loose dry sluffing was also reported in steep terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Recent switching wind has formed pockets of wind slab in exposed terrain on most aspects, these are currently more reactive on southerly aspects. New surface hoar and needle crystals are forming up to 5 mm on most aspects and elevations. The top 20 to 40 cm of the snowpack consists of low density snow that is gradually bonding to old hard surfaces that include crusts and wind-packed snow. Low-density snow may sluff easily from these hard surfaces.In some isolated features, the snow has settled into thin slabs above these hard surfaces. However, the remainder of the snowpack is 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.