Regions
Northwest Coastal.
The weekend will start up with a period of stable weather. Expect the avalanche danger to rise as the temperature rises through the day.
Confidence
Low - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / Light south wind / Alpine temperature 0 / Freezing level 1300mSUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light east wind / Alpine temperature 0 / Freezing level 1300mSUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light northeast wind / Alpine temperature 2 / Freezing level 1500m
Avalanche Summary
There have been no recent reports of avalanche activity in the south of the region. That being said there is little to no information being passed on from the region recently. Exposure to large overhanging cornices remains a significant concern. As the sun comes out over the weekend I would expect see cornices weaken and loose snow avalanches run from steep sun exposed slopes during the warmest parts of the day.
Snowpack Summary
New snow at upper elevations from last week has been redistributed east and southeast winds. This may be sitting on a variety of old surfaces including hard wind crusts in exposed terrain and sun crusts on solar aspects. At the tree line elevation, warming and re freezing earlier in the week has likely has created melt freeze crusts. Below tree line the surface snow is likely a mix of crusts at the upper end of the elevation band to moist or wet snow throughout the entire thickness of the snowpack at the lower portions of the elevation band.
Problems
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.