Wind slabs are expected to be problematic Monday, 25 to 40 cm of recent snow has been formed into a cohesive slab that likely remains sensitive to human triggering. Choose wind sheltered terrain features to avoid the problem and find the best riding!
Weather Forecast
The work week kicks off with a rather disorganized pattern that is not expected to generate any significant snowfall, but a significant change looks to be in store as a vigorous low approaches the Sea to Sky region Wednesday afternoon.MONDAY: Clear skies in the morning, a few clouds building in the afternoon, freezing level around 500 m, light west/northwest wind, no significant snowfall expected. TUESDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level around 750 m, moderate to strong west/northwest wind, trace of snow possible.WEDNESDAY: Overcast, freezing level around 750 m, potentially strong to extreme south/southwest wind, copious amounts of precipitation possible, but the latest model run shows about 10 cm of snow. Stay tuned for more details.
Avalanche Summary
Loose dry avalanches and storm slabs were rampant on Saturday to size 1.5. These avalanches were 5 to 20 cm in depth, some failed naturally while others were triggered by skiers and explosive control work.
Snowpack Summary
Around 10 to 20 cm of storm snow fell on Friday and another 15 to 20 cm fell Saturday night into Sunday. Strong to extreme winds out of the south and southeast were recorded in the early hours of Sunday as the storm exited the region. Previous storms have been accompanied by strong south winds. All of this snow fell on previously wind-affected surfaces as well as a sun crust on solar aspects. Also make note of cornices at ridgeline. Variable winds in the past month have produced cornices on all aspects. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the sun packs a strong punch on clear days.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.