Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Confidence is poor due to wildly variable wind slabs and a forecasted Above Freezing Layer that suggests we may not get a refreeze between 1500m and 2800m until Thursday morning.
Weather Forecast
Synopsis: Arctic air is now dominant over all of coastal BC. Warmer air riding up and over the arctic air has created an above freezing layer that should stick around through Thursday morning. Looks like a significant storm will make landfall Thursday night continuing into Friday.Wednesday: Freezing Level: Valley Bottom, potential AFL 1000 to 2500m; Precipitation: Nil; Wind: Treeline: Moderate, NW | Ridgetop: Strong, NW.Thursday: Freezing Level: 800m, Precipitation: trace; Wind: Treeline: Moderate W/SW | Ridgetop: Extreme, SW.Thursday Night: Precipitation: 10 to 25mm | 10 to 30cm.Friday: Freezing Level: 800m; Precipitation: 5 to15mm | 5 to 20cm; Wind: Treeline: Strong, SW | Ridgetop: Extreme, W
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday wind and storm slabs to size 2.5 ran on NW, SW and SE facing aspects between 1500 and 2000m
Snowpack Summary
Strong outflow winds on Dec. 28 left a variety of wind affected conditions in their wake in wind exposed terrain at all elevations. You will likely find wind pressed snow on north aspects, thicker wind slabs on south facing features and some degree of crossloading on everything else.The mid and lower snowpack are generally well-settled. Several old crust layers exist but these appear to be well bonded.Look for a revised snowpack discussion on Wednesday.
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.