Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
A fast moving frontal wave will move onto the coast late today. It should move quickly across the province and be out of the area by Thursday morning. Another Pacific disturbance may bring light precipitation, then weather begins to dry out and cool off.Wednesday evening: Mostly cloudy, light locally moderate snowfall, some parts of the forecast area may receive 10-15cm of snow, freezing level at valley bottom overnight, ridge top winds 20-30km/h SW-WThursday: Freezing level at or near valley bottom. Snowfall amounts, 5-10cm, ridge top winds from the W-NW 30-50km/h Friday: Freezing level around 100m. Nil to trace precipitation in the forecast for Friday.
Avalanche Summary
We are still seeing reports of large reports of size 2 and 3 natural avalanches, as well as skier remote avalanches up to size 2.
Snowpack Summary
Parts of the forecast region have received over 1.75m of cumulative storm snow which has now settled into a slab with a typical thickness of 60-90cm. This storm slab overlies a variety of facets, surface hoar, crusts, hard wind press, or any combination of these. Widespread whumpfing, cracking, natural avalanche activity and remote triggering at all elevations are a strong indication of poor bond between the new snow and these old surfaces. Snowpack tests show easy, sudden collapse within the storm slab. This storm slab problem will be with us for a long time as it is sitting on a large weak layer . Even when the ``whumping``stops,..it will still be dangerous, with potential for large, destructive avalanches.
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.