Regions
Northwest Inland.
Watch for new wind slabs forming with light snowfall forecast for Monday.
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
Scattered snowfall (up to 5cm) is expected on Monday as a cold front moves over the region. Due to the convective nature of the snowfall, more intense precipitation may result in some areas. By late Tuesday, a ridge should bring clearing that should last until late Wednesday. By Wednesday evening, a more organized warm and wet frontal system will arrive. Ridgetop winds should be moderate from the southwest with Monday's snowfall, decreasing to light on Tuesday. Freezing levels should hover around 1200m on Monday and Tuesday, rising to about 1800m with Wednesday's system.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous size 1 loose wet avalanches were reported on Saturday. They failed in steep rocky terrain in response to warming and solar radiation. Cloud on Monday should limit this type of pattern, although there may be a shift to small wind slab activity with light convective snowfall forecast for Monday morning.
Snowpack Summary
Light accumulations from Friday may now exist as a soft wind slab in high elevation lee terrain. The new snow overlies older wind slabs, crusts and wind-scoured surfaces. Sun-exposed slopes and lower elevation areas are likely in a spring melt-freeze cycle. Weaknesses buried in the upper snowpack may include hard crusts and/or facet crystals, although not much is known about the reactivity or spatial distribution of this layer. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found. Cornices are large and potentially fragile, especially under warm, sunny skies
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.