Regions
Northwest Coastal.
The recent snowfall has likely been blown into lee terrain features from strong, variable wind. In sheltered areas, the recent snow may also need a bit more time to bond.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Clearing skies with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, light north wind, alpine temperature -6 C.WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northeast wind, alpine temperature -6 C.THURSDAY: Increasing clouds over the day, light northwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C.FRIDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 20 to 30 cm, moderate to strong southwest wind, alpine temperature -7 C.
Avalanche Summary
A few small (size 1) wind slab avalanches were observed on Monday.
Snowpack Summary
Tuesday's storm brought around 20 cm of snow, which fell onto a heavily wind-affected snow surface. The new snow may have formed touchy wind slabs quickly, as the storm had associated strong southwest to northwest wind. Beneath the new snow lies a variety of hard slabs, wind-pressed snow, sastrugi, and melt-freeze crust. In sheltered areas at and below treeline, the new snow may have fallen onto pockets of feathery surface hoar crystals and soft faceted snow. In the south of the region, the remainder of the snowpack is well-settled.Around Bear Pass and in the north of the region, you may find two weak layers of surface hoar buried between 50 and 100 cm. The base of the snowpack may also be composed of weak and sugary faceted snow.
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.