The sun is out again warming the new snow on slopes exposed to the sun. Recent wind slabs might still be found in the alpine on northerly aspects.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Clearing, trace of snow, light to moderate Northerly winds, freezing level at 900 m.WEDNESDAY: Clear with a few clouds, moderate southeast winds, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level at 1700 m.THURSDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, light Easterly winds, alpine temperatures of -4 C, freezing level at 1800 m.FRIDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, light Easterly winds, alpine temperatures of -2 C, freezing level at 1900 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday the expected solar input might trigger the new snow as loose wet avalanches.On Tuesday several loose avalanches and slab avalanches up to size 2 which released in the recent storm snow were reported. No avalanche activity was reported on Sunday and Monday.In the far north of the region on Friday and Saturday loose wet avalanche activity to size 2 was reported on solar aspects. Sporadic natural slab avalanches were also reported in the alpine and treeline, but no activity was reported from north aspects. Very little activity was reported from areas closer to Whistler.
Snowpack Summary
The recently formed wind slabs in the alpine are overlying a variety of snow layers. On higher north aspects above 2000 m you may find some dry, faceted snow. Some of this has been redistributed by southwesterly and northerly winds which may have formed isolated old wind slabs. There are still a handful of melt/freeze crusts, surface hoar and facets in the upper snowpack, but all of these layers appear to have gone dormant for the time being. The snowpack at mid and upper is gaining strength in consecutive nights with below freezing temperatures.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
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.