Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Snow is finally coming! Some parts of the region could see rapid loading on Sunday, so be prepared to dial back your terrain choices.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY NIGHT: Storm arriving overnight bringing 5 cm of snow by the morning (with a fair bit more possible near the coast), strong wind out of the south, freezing level climbing to 1000 m.SUNDAY: Another 5-20 cm of snow throughout the day, strong wind out of the south, freezing level climbing to 1200 m.MONDAY: Flurries with another 5-10 cm of snow, moderate to strong wind out of the southwest, freezing level around 800 m.TUESDAY: The next storm arrives with 20-40 cm of snow, extreme wind out of the southwest, and freezing level up to 1000 m.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity has been reported. Please post your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN) this weekend.
Snowpack Summary
New snow will accumulate as a series of storms bring much needed snow to the region. With strong winds in the forecast expect thicker wind deposits at high elevations. The new snow will likely bond poorly to the feathery surface hoar crystals and soft sugary snow that have been sitting on the surface for the past week.Deeper in the snowpack, there are reports of several crusts including an early season crust with facets near the bottom of the snowpack.We currently have limited snowpack observations, but expect snow depths ranging from 70-120 cm in the alpine. This decreases dramatically with elevation where the primary hazards are rocks, stumps, and open creeks.
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.