South Coast

Wind slabs are likely to be largest and most reactive in steep alpine features.

Moderate

• We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast.
• We are uncertain about alpine conditions due to limited field observations.

On Tuesday, there were reports of skier triggered wind slabs up to size 1 in steep NE terrain. Sluffing was reported to run fast and far on sheltered north aspects.

Some sluffing was reported on Monday.

On Saturday, a skier triggered a wind slab on a northeast-facing alpine slope near Sky Pilot.

15 to 40 cm of snow overlies the early February crust with the deepest deposits on northerly aspects at treeline and above. This snow is reported to be well bonded to the crust.

The remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.

The snowpack depth at treeline ranges from 90 to 170 cm. The snowpack depth tapers rapidly below treeline, especially on south aspects.

Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. 2 cm of snow. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 cm of snow.10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Friday
Mix of sun and clouds. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km.h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
• Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
• A hard crust on the snow surface will help strengthen the snowpack, but may cause tough travel conditions.