A heavy snowfall warning is in effect but not all of the models are in agreement. We may see up to 10cm of snow overnight with the majority of this new snow falling in the eastern regions.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday
Weather Forecast
We are expecting a weak system to cross over the region tonight and give us a few flurries but not too much in the way of accumulations. By Sunday we are HOPEFUL that 20cm of new snow will have fallen with very little wind affect. Temperatures are again supposed to drop back towards -20 by the weekend with light - moderate winds out of the NW.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity has been observed in the past 24hrs.
Snowpack Summary
This week so far we have only seen 10cm of new snow at the higher elevations. This snow has been moved around by the NW flow adding load to the previous existing windslabs that had formed across the region. Forecasters can confirm that wind affected snow is the norm. Any above treeline terrain has been pummeled by the winds making travel fast but skiing not so appealing. Cold temps have also facetted out the upper snowpack below treeline making shallow areas very weak. The midpack is well settled but we are in need of new snow for a bit of a re-set within the snowpack.
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.