Regions
South Coast Inland.
Windslabs from cold outflow winds are the primary concern; however, given the generally sugary upper snowpack, wind slabs could be found in all sorts of terrain at treeline and alpine elevations.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY Overnight: Mostly clear / light to moderate east wind / low temperatures around -15 CMONDAY: Mainly sunny / light to moderate east wind / alpine temperature -5 to -10 CTUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud / light to moderate east wind / alpine temperature -7 CWEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud / light to moderate southeast winds / warmer with high temperatures near zero at treeline elevations
Avalanche Summary
Wind slabs up to size 1.5 have been reactive to human triggers on all aspects at treeline and in the alpine. These wind slabs may fail on older firm surfaces or facets approximately 20-50 cm down.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of recent snow covers a variety of old surfaces including sugary faceted snow, sun crusts on steep solar aspects, firm wind affected snow (either scoured or old hard windslab), and possibly even surface hoar in sheltered areas. Strong easterly winds are likely to form windslabs. The key point is the winds have come from a variety of directions and they're often failing on the sugary facets these slabs. Therefore the problem is potentially widespread.The lower snowpack is generally well-settled.
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.