Regions
Northwest Inland.
Watch for windslabs above sugary faceted snow and steep slopes warming up from strong sunshine.
Confidence
High - The weather pattern is stable
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear, dry, and light easterly winds with temperatures around -10 C or colder.THURSDAY: Sunny, dry, light northwest wind, alpine high temperatures near -8 C.FRIDAY: Sunny, dry, light northerly wind, alpine high temperatures near -8 C.SATURDAY: Sunny, dry, light westerly wind, alpine high temperatures near -6 C.
Avalanche Summary
A size 1.5 windslab was triggered on a lee slope in the north of the region on Tuesday. It released on the weaker facets below the wind affected snow. A few thin (size 1) wind slabs were observed on Saturday, as well as numerous loose dry avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
Open areas at upper elevations are likely wind affected, while pockets of soft snow can be found in sheltered and shaded areas.Sun crust are likely found on south-facing slopes. In some sheltered areas, 20-50 cm of recent snow may sit on facets (sugary snow) or surface hoar (feathery crystals), but no recent activity has been reported on these layers.In the south of the region, the lower snowpack is generally strong.
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.