Regions
Northwest Inland.
Cornices have the potential to trigger avalanches on the slopes below. Be alert to changes with elevation.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number and quality of field observations
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, light southeast wind, freezing level up to 1300 m after an overnight freeze.FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy, moderate southeast wind, freezing level up to 1300 m after an overnight freeze.SATURDAY: 10 cm of new snow, light southeast wind, freezing level around 1300 m.
Avalanche Summary
Several size 1-2 wind slabs were triggered by cornice falls in the Howsons earlier this week. No other new avalanches have been reported in the region since last week, when 2 cornice triggered size 2.5 slabs were reported in the Microwave area.
Snowpack Summary
Strong winds with light amounts of snow formed fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain on Wednesday. Elevations below about 1200 m are experiencing a daily melt-freeze cycle. Hard crusts form overnight and become moist during the heat of the day. Hard crusts may be found at higher elevations, particularly on slopes that were sun-exposed. The February crust and facet layer is 75-90 cm deep in the Houston Telkwas sled area and the deep persistent weak facet layer is still lingering near the bottom of 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.