A few cm of snow are expected Wednesday, but the impact should be minimal. Wind slabs immediately lee of ridgecrest may remain sensitive to human triggering. Midday sun is likely to initiate loose wet avalanche activity in the new snow too.
Weather Forecast
A low pressure centre over the Gulf of Alaska continues to produce weak systems that impact the Northwest. Wednesday's system has potential to deliver a bit of fresh snow to the Cariboos, but amounts look to be pretty modest. TUESDAY NIGHT: Freezing level around 2000 m at sundown lowering to 1000 m overnight, light west/northwest wind, trace of snow possible. WEDNESDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level around 1600 m, light southwest wind, 3 to 6 cm of snow possible.THURSDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level around 1500 m, light southwest wind, trace of snow possible.FRIDAY: Scattered cloud cover, freezing level around 1600 m, light west/southwest wind, trace of snow possible.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday there was quite a bit of natural avalanche activity in the recent storm snow. Slabs to size 1.5 were reported from all aspects between 1800 and 2700 m. The natural activity was likely caused by the appearance of the strong April sun.On Sunday wind slabs to size 2 released naturally and were also susceptible to human triggering on north, northeast and east facing terrain between 1900 and 2200 m
Snowpack Summary
15 to 25 cm of recent storm snow in the alpine and at treeline sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 1800 m, where it sits on dry snow. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.
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.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.