Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Conditions are improving with cooling temperatures. Watch for unstable snow in wind affected terrain and treeline slopes where surface hoar may be preserved.
Confidence
High - The weather pattern is stable
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods, light southeast wind, alpine temperatures around -8 C.SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light southeast wind, alpine temperatures around -8 C.MONDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods, light southeast wind, alpine temperatures around -6 C.
Avalanche Summary
On Thursday, numerous small loose wet avalanches (size 1) were skier triggered in the Terrace area. Evidence of natural avalanche activity during the previous storm was also reported, with the largest avalanches in the north around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw (in the size 2.5-3.5 range). Cooling temperatures will make natural avalanches unlikely this weekend, but human triggering storm slabs will remain possible.
Snowpack Summary
15-25 cm of recent snow sits above a rain crust and moist settling storm snow. Strong winds earlier in the week formed deeper deposits in exposed high elevation terrain. The February 10th interface is now buried 60-80 cm deep and consists of facets, sun crusts on steep solar aspects, and surface hoar in sheltered locations. This interface is likely gaining strength, but may still be reactive in isolated areas at treeline where the surface hoar has been well-preserved. Below this layer, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled. The exceptions are areas around Bear Pass and Ningunsaw where basal facets remain an ongoing concern, especially in shallow snowpack areas.
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.