Regions
South Coast Inland.
The weather pattern is shifting. Expect wind slabs to develop at upper elevations as the wind picks up and snow accumulates Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Flurries, accumulation up to 5 cm at upper elevations / light to moderate southwest wind / alpine temperature -2 C / freezing level 1500 mWEDNESDAY: Flurries at upper elevations, accumulation 5-15 cm / moderate southwest wind / alpine temperature -1 C / freezing level 1600 mTHURSDAY: Mainly cloudy / light south wind / alpine temperature 0 C / freezing level 1700 mFRIDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm / light to moderate south wind / alpine temperature -1 C / freezing level 1600 m
Avalanche Summary
There have been no recent reports of avalanche activity.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of new snow falling Tuesday night and Wednesday is expected to be redistributed at upper elevations by southwesterly winds. This sits on a melt-freeze crust or wet snow depending on elevation, except for north aspects above 2000 m where it may be sitting on dry snow and/or weak feathery surface hoar. Below 1800 m the entire lower snowpack is either moist or wet.
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.