Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Sunday should see a slight cooling trend we expect the snowfall to end on Monday morning. A zonal flow is forecast through Wednesday with moderate to strong westerly winds and short-lived disturbances delivering 5 to 10 cm of snow each day, especially on the west (upslope) side of the ranges. Freezing level should remain near valley floors. Wednesday could see heavier precipitation once the next major system hits the coast; however current thinking is this will not happen until Wednesday evening.
Avalanche Summary
Natural avalanches from low elevation avalanche paths were reported Saturday, as were small slides in the storm snow from outside the highway corridor. No reports for Sunday. Poor visibility is limiting field observations.
Snowpack Summary
Professionals around Terrace are losing track of storm snow amounts, in part because their automatic stations are buried by the 5 plus metre snowpack. Winds with the storm mean wind slabs on lee and cross-loaded terrain. Most snowpack concerns are limited to the surface layers, however deeper in the snowpack are a couple of layers of old facets & maybe a crust which still POP in stability tests at treeline and below treeline elevations in cutblocks and roadbanks.
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.
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.