Regions
Northwest Inland.
Avalanche danger trending up over the next few days due to another warm storm moving in from the Southwest.
Confidence
Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Increasing cloud overnight with light Southerly winds and a few flurries by Thursday morning. Light snow during the day on Thursday combined with moderate Southerly winds and freezing levels at valley bottoms. Winds becoming strong Southwest on Friday with 3-5 cm of new snow expected. Strong Southwest winds overnight and continuing during the day on Saturday with another 5-10 cm of new snow. Freezing levels rising up to at least 1000 metres on Saturday.
Avalanche Summary
There are no new avalanche reports from the region.
Snowpack Summary
A dusting of new snow overlies weak surface hoar which is reported to exist up to at least treeline elevation. Below the new snow you'll likely find wind-scoured surfaces and old wind slabs in exposed terrain, and settled storm snow closer to treeline. Near the base of the snowpack, weaknesses such as the mid-November crust-facet layer are still of concern. I'd use extra caution around steep, unsupported high elevation terrain as avalanches at this interface could propagate over wide distances.
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.