Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Thursday
Weather Forecast
Strong southwest winds are expected to swing more westerly by Thursday morning. Moderate precipitation should continue overnight Wednesday and during the day Thursday bringing another 15 cm to treeline elevations by Thursday morning. A further 15 cm of snow at treeline during the day on Thursday is forecast to be combined with very strong and gusty westerly winds. A weak ridge of high pressure should develop briefly on Friday. The wind should drop a bit, but still be about 40-60 km/hr from the west with flurries. The next Pacific system should move in from the coast overnight or early Saturday morning. This system is still a few days away, but is forecast to combine very strong southwest winds, heavy precipitation, and freezing levels rising to about 1000 metres.
Avalanche Summary
Debris observed from natural avalanches up to size 3.0. I suspect that there has been a widespread natural avalanche cycle.
Snowpack Summary
The storm continues to bring heavy snowfall and strong southwest winds. Conditions are building new windslabs and storm slabs above the recent storm snow that has consolidated into a slab. The old windslabs are on south through west aspects, and they are stiff and continue to be easily triggered. New windslabs are building on north through east aspects, making travel a bit tricky; limited options exist for avoiding both types of windslab. The deep snowpack is considered to be well settled with no persistent layers of concern.
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.
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.