Regions
Northwest Coastal.
Confidence
Fair - Due to limited field observations for the entire period
Weather Forecast
Wednesday: Flurries are expected in the morning increasing to heavy precipitation and strong southwestely in the evening. Freezing levels are expected to remain around 1200m. Thursday: Heavy precipitation with 50mm expected throughout the day. Extreme southerly winds and freezing levels as high as 1400m. Friday: Precipitation and wind should ease off with a clearing and cooling trend throughout the day.
Avalanche Summary
Warm temperatures and light to moderate precipitation resulted in several low-elevation natural storm slab avalanches up to Size 1.5 on Monday. Storm slabs continue to be reactive to natural and human triggers.
Snowpack Summary
Total snowpack depths are well above average for this time of year and it won't stop snowing! Recent warm temperatures and upside-down storms created a touchy surface slab. Other weaknesses within and under the 150+cm of recent storm snow create the potential for step-down avalanches, but things seem to be settling rapidly. Strong winds associated with recent storms means large weak wind slabs and cornices on lee and cross-loaded terrain. Most snowpack concerns are limited to the surface layers, however large triggers such as cornice falls and smaller avalanche stepping-down could reawaken deeper persistent weaknesses.
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.