Shallow snow at lower elevations means barely hidden hazards like rocks and stumps are hard to avoid.
Weather Forecast
Mainly cloudy with flurries and light W winds are expected today. On Sunday, expected continued flurries with up to 8cm through the day. Winds will increase on Sunday, with moderate W'ly winds gusting to strong at ridgetop. Natural avalanches are likely from steep lee slopes when the winds pick up. Precipitation will taper off on Monday.
Snowpack Summary
~25cm of new snow fell yesterday with light SW winds. This unconsolidated snow will have buried windslabs that formed earlier in the week. A surface hoar layer, most prevalent around 1800m, is down ~50cm and collapses easily in tests. Skiers reported cracking in areas with windslabs. Below treeline the snowpack is thin, barely covering hazards.
Avalanche Summary
2 size 2 natural avalanches were observed yesterday off steep N facing paths on Mt Macdonald and running through the alder into the avalanche fans. Suspect more activity with new storm snow overnight, but at least the winds have tapered off for Saturday. On Sunday expect increased avalanche activity from steep lee paths as the winds pick up again.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
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.
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.