Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Northwest Coastal.
Confidence
Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Dry with some clear spells until late in the day. Strong northwesterly winds. Models indicate an inversion will set up for Wednesday afternoon with valley temps around -10C and above-zero between 1400m and 2000m. Thursday: Light snow, 2-5 cm expected, clearing thorough the day. Winds initially strong northwesterly but diminishing through the day. Treeline temps around -8C. Friday: Cold and dry. Moderate and locally strong easterly winds. Treeline temps around -12C.
Avalanche Summary
The north part of the region reported up to size three natural avalanches over the weekend. Poor visibility limited observations in the south but no new avalanches were reported.
Snowpack Summary
The region picked up 20 to 60cm of storm snow over the weekend accompanied by winds out of the southwest, west, northwest, and most recently the east. This will have set up storm slabs in more sheltered areas and wind slabs on a wide variety of aspects in more exposed areas. These new storm and wind slabs may rest on a melt freeze crust (reported to be 3 to 15cm thick), and there are reports there also may be surface hoar resting above this crust in sheltered locations. Below this crust the mid-pack is reported to be generally strong. You can expect to find a second prominent crust, which was buried at the end of October, 100 to 200cm below the surface. This lower layer may have associated facets, particularly in more shallow locations.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 3
Deep Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3