Regions
Northwest Coastal.
With a stable weather pattern conditions are mostly stable. Watch for pockets of windslab and keep an eye on slopes getting hit by strong sun.
Confidence
High - The weather pattern is stable
Weather Forecast
Little change is on the horizon.WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear, dry, cold, and light north or northeast windsTHURSDAY: Sunny, dry, light northwest wind, alpine high temperatures near -7 C.FRIDAY: Sunny, dry, light northwest wind, alpine temperatures near -5 C.SATURDAY: Mostly sunny, dry, light west wind, alpine temperatures near -5 C.
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday in the northern part of the region there was a single report of a size 1.5 windslab releasing on facets.One small slab avalanche (size 1) was triggered remotely by a group of skiers on Sunday. It was 40 cm thick and occurred on an east aspect at 1400 m.
Snowpack Summary
Many days of outflow winds have scoured the surface in exposed terrain and formed hard wind slabs on all aspects. South facing slopes likely have crusts on the surface.Roughly 30-50 cm of snow sits above a layer of cold, soft faceted snow and surface hoar. This layer has been reactive in some snowpack tests and could enhance the propagation of wind slabs if triggered.The lower snowpack is generally considered strong.
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.