Regions
Northwest Inland.
Watch for variable wind redistribution patterns as you gain elevation. North-facing slopes have seen the most recent wind loading.
Weather Forecast
Monday: Mainly cloudy with a mix of isolated flurries or light rain. Light to moderate southeast winds. Temperature inversion persisting with freezing levels to 1800 metres and alpine high temperatures of +3. Cooler at lower elevations.Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds. Freezing level returning to around 600 metres as the temperature inversion diminishes. Alpine high temperatures to -3.Wednesday: Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing 2-5 cm of new snow, continuing overnight. Freezing level to 600 metres with alpine high temperatures of -3.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported in the region.
Snowpack Summary
Warm temperatures have moistened snow at the surface at upper elevations and cooling over Sunday night is likely to form a new crust on the surface. Below the surface, 20 to 30 cm of dry snow overlies various surfaces including a freezing rain crust (which was reported as being hard in the alpine and breakable below treeline), old sun crusts and wind slabs.A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found in the upper snowpack. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.The lower snowpack is generally well-settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.
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.