Regions
South Coast Inland.
Warm temperatures are expected to destabilize the surface snow and could also release storm slab avalanches at higher elevations.
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Warm, dry and sunny. Freezing level rising to over 3000m. Some cold air may be trapped at lower elevations keeping the valleys cool below 1500m.Monday: Slightly cooler temperatures, but still a warm day. Freezing level around 2500m. Temperatures at 2000m around 5C. Cloud building through the day.Tuesday: Rain turning to snow later on. Amounts: 10-15mm. Freezing level 2300m in the morning, 1500m in the afternoon. Moderate southeasterly winds.
Avalanche Summary
Under rapid warming conditions, slab avalanches are possible above 1500 m where recent new snow has fallen. Loose snow avalanches are possible on steep terrain at all elevations, but will be most likely on southerly aspects if the sun comes out.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm slabs and wind slabs have formed in response to recent snow and southwest winds above approximately 1600 m. Below the new storm snow, you'll find about 15-50 cm of relatively low-density snow which overlies a thick crust that was buried on January 6. This crust exists up to about 2000m. A widespread melt-freeze crust formed in mid-December is still on the radar of professionals in the northern portion of the region where it is down 40 to 50 cm below the surface. Recent observations have shown that there are rounding facets underneath the crust on shady aspects at and above treeline. Recent snowpack tests have produced easy sudden-planar results on solar aspects at and above treeline on this interface as well. Around the Coquihalla this interface is not problematic and is thought to be part of a well bonded mid-pack. The lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
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.