Be cautious of the potential for new wind slab development Wednesday overnight. Are you a member of Avalanche Canada? Join today at avalanche.ca/membership
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
2-4mm of precipitation is expected Wednesday overnight with moderate alpine winds from the NW. Unsettled conditions are expected for Thursday. A mix of sun and cloud is expected early in the day and light scattered precipitation is possible in the afternoon. Freezing levels are forecast to reach around 1500m and alpine winds should remain light from the NW. On Friday, similar conditions are expected with light scattered flurries possible and a mix of sun and cloud. Freezing levels are expected to be around 1300m and alpine winds should remain light from the NE. Saturday is currently forecast to be a day of full sun as the ridge should be re-established over the coast.
Avalanche Summary
Some small solar-triggered activity was reported on Monday and no new avalanches have been reported since. Avalanche activity is generally not expected for Thursday except potentially isolated human-triggered wind slab activity if we get more snow than forecast Wednesday overnight.
Snowpack Summary
The snow surface is highly variable and may include wind-pressed surfaces or old wind slabs, a sun crust on all solar aspects, surface hoar, surface facets, and/or up to 5 cm of soft snow over a widespread supportive rain crust in wind sheltered areas. The snowpack is generally strong and well settled. If we get enough snow Wednesday overnight, thin isolated wind slabs may form in immediate leeward terrain features in the alpine.
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.