Regions
Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
2-4cms of snow accompanied by moderate to strong southwest winds are expected on friday evening. Light flurries and light to moderate westerly winds are forecast to continue through saturday, but a ridge should develop by sunday bringing clearing conditions to the region through monday.Freezing levels are expected to sit between 600m and surface for the forecast period.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity has been reported.
Snowpack Summary
For the most part the snow surface is some sort of hard crust or wind-sculpted snow, which probably has surface hoar growing on it and facets forming beneath it. The mid and lower snowpack are generally quite strong. If snowfall and wind materialize for friday night, a new wind/storm slab will exist in the alpine and perhaps down to treeline.
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.