Regions
South Coast Inland.
The sun is out again. The thin new snow layer may be triggered as wet snow avalanches.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Clearing, trace of snow accumulation at upper elevations, light to moderate northeast winds, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1500 dropping to 800 mWEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light to moderate east winds, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1800 mTHURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light to moderate northeast wind, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level 1900 m FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northeast wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 2000 m
Avalanche Summary
In the far north of the region on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday loose wet avalanche activity up to size 2 was reported on solar aspects. Sporadic natural slab avalanches were also reported in the alpine and treeline, but no activity was reported from north aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10 cm of new snow at upper elevations from Monday night sits on a variety of surfaces. On higher north aspects above 2000 m it may sit on some dry, faceted snow and/or isolated old wind slabs. At most other places the new snow is sitting on either moist snow or a crust. There are still a handful of melt/freeze crusts, surface hoar and facets in the upper snowpack, but all of these layers appear to have gone dormant for the time being. The snowpack at mid and upper elevations is gaining strength in consecutive nights with below freezing temperatures.
Problems
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.
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.