Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Keep an eye on temperatures on Sunday. We could see an above freezing layer develop, which could unlock the snowpack and increase the potential for rider triggering.
Confidence
Poor - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. Temperatures remain cold in the valley bottoms, but an above freezing layer could develop between 1200 and 1800 m. Winds should be moderate from the Northwest. Monday: Mainly cloudy with a chance of flurries. Freezing level remains at valley bottom and winds are moderate to strong from the Northwest. Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with a chance of flurries. Freezing level remains at valley bottom and winds are light to moderate from the W-NW.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported, but reports are limited.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack depths are highly variable across the region, with elevation, and in wind-exposed areas. Low-elevation and wind-affected areas have a shallow faceted snowpack. While in higher elevation sheltered areas the recent storm snow is settling and gaining strength; however, weaknesses at the old snow interface down approximately 40cm may still need time to heal. Recent reports suggest this interface is still giving easy compression test results and remains a concern with wind slabs. The lower snowpack is a series of crusts, some of which are laminated with facets, particularly in shallower areas. Facets under the uppermost crust, down approximately 50cm, gave hard sudden collapse compression test results in the Shames area on Sunday. Recent cold and clear weather is promoting surface hoar formation and near-surface faceting.
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.