Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Ongoing snow and wind are building storm slabs and wind slabs. Be aware of what's above you as these may fail naturally.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: 20 cm snow. Freezing level near 400 m. Strong westerly winds. SUNDAY: 10-15 cm snow. Freezing level near 400 m. Moderate south-westerly winds. MONDAY: 10-20 cm snow. Freezing level near 400 m. Strong south-westerly winds.More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Avalanche Summary
Rapid wind loading caused a natural avalanche cycle on Wednesday. On steep solar aspects, size 1-2 loose wet avalanches were also observed. A few small wind slabs were triggered by skiers on Thursday.New snow and wind are expected to cause a rise in avalanche activity throughout the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Snow and wind over the weekend are building storm slabs and wind slabs in open terrain at alpine and treeline elevations. New snow has buried old hard wind slabs, scoured surfaces and sastrugi in many exposed areas. In wind-sheltered terrain, sun crusts or dry facets sit below the recent storm snow.In the upper pack is an interface of sun crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar (which is most prevalent in sheltered treed locations). Deeper in the snowpack, around 50-150 cm down, you'll find a crust/surface hoar layer, which still has the chance to surprise you and could be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like cornice fall.
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.