Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Now that the storm is over, signs of avalanche danger may be less obvious. Touchy wind slabs are lingering. If it's sunny, avoid steep slopes that are getting sun-baked.
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Thursday
Weather Forecast
A brief clearing is expected on Tuesday, before a Pacific frontal system pushes ashore late that day. Generally light precipitation is expected on Wednesday and Thursday, with the freezing level around 1000 m and winds moderate to strong from the S to SW.
Avalanche Summary
Explosives control on Sunday triggered several very large avalanches near Stewart, failing at ground or on a deeply buried crust. Last week there was a widespread natural avalanche cycle. No naturally triggered avalanches were reported on Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 1 m of recent storm snow has been redistributed by strong and variable winds, creating widespread wind slabs. Operators got moderate snowpack test results on storm interfaces on Sunday. Older buried surfaces include wind slabs, hard crusts, surface hoar, and/or surface facets. The mid-pack is generally well-settled and strong. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found, particularly on shallow alpine slopes in the north of the region. Cornices are large and potentially fragile. Below treeline, the snow appears to be in a spring melt-freeze cycle.
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.