Regions
Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Poor - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Monday: Mainly cloudy with light snow developing – around 5 cm. Freezing level remains at valley bottom and winds are moderate to strong from the Northwest. Tuesday: Cloudy with light to moderate snow – 5-10 cm. Freezing level remains at valley bottom but temperatures are starting to moderate. Winds should be light to moderate from the W-NW.Wednesday: The flow finally changes to southwesterly bringing a pacific frontal system to the region with moderate precipitation and milder temperatures.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported; however, reports are limited.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack depths are likely highly variable across the region, with elevation, and in wind-exposed areas. Low-elevation and wind-affected areas likely have a shallow faceted snowpack. While in higher elevation sheltered areas the recent storm snow is likely settling and gaining strength; however, weaknesses at the old snow interface down approximately 40cm may still need time to heal. In the Ashman Ridge area on Sunday, this interface gave easy compression test results. Northerly outflow winds are likely forming fresh wind slabs in exposed lee terrain and scouring windward terrain. Average snowpack depths near treeline are highly variable, but around a metre in sheltered areas.
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.