Confidence
Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain for the entire period
Weather Forecast
The timing and intensity of incoming snow and wind is uncertain.Friday: Moderate SW wind. Alpine temperature near -5. 5-10 cm snow overnight Thursday, ending on Friday.Saturday: Light NW wind. Alpine temperature near -6. Light snow is possible.Sunday: Light to moderate SW wind. Alpine temperature near -8. Light snow.
Avalanche Summary
A natural cycle of wet slabs was triggered by rain at the beginning of the storm on Wednesday around the Coquihalla.
Snowpack Summary
New snow is landing on a medley of surfaces including hard wind slabs, thin and thick crusts and large surface hoar crystals which can be found in sheltered areas below treeline. Southerly winds have shifted snow into soft slabs on lee slopes. A surface hoar layer buried down 40-80 cm seems to be gaining strength. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer exists, which is now unlikely to be triggered, except perhaps by heavy triggers in unsupported, shallow, rocky terrain where more faceting has taken place.
Problems
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.