Regions
Northwest Coastal.
The weather is due to change with snowfall forecast to start Wednesday and carry through to Friday. Avalanche danger will gradually increase as the snow starts to accumulate at a higher rate on Thursday.
Confidence
Low - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5cm. Light to moderate south wind. Alpine temperature -2. Freezing level 1100 m. THURSDAY: Snow, accumulation 15-25cm. Moderate to strong southwest wind. Alpine temperature -3. Freezing level 1000 m. FRIDAY: Periods of snow, accumulation 10-15cm. Moderate south wind. Alpine temperature -3. Freezing level 1000 m.
Avalanche Summary
There are no recent reports of avalanche activity. Reports from this weekend indicate loose wet activity on steep slopes facing the sun at tree line and in the alpine. These avalanches were reported as size 1-2 and were isolated to the recent surface snow only.
Snowpack Summary
Recent new snow and strong variable winds have formed wind slabs on a variety of aspects at treeline and above. In the south of the region, two layers of surface hoar are buried early-March and mid-March are approximately 70-100 cm deep. The layers are most prominent on north to east aspects and were buried In the north of the region, these layers are around 40 cm deep.Below these March layers the mid-pack is generally well-settled and strong. However in the far north of the region there are weak sugary facets 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.