Another coastal storm will blanket snow across the mountains on Wednesday. The snow and associated strong winds may form new slabs.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, freezing level 600 m.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 20 cm, moderate to strong southwest winds, treeline temperature -2 C, freezing level 600 m.THURSDAY: Mostly sunny, light west winds, treeline temperature -3 C, freezing level 500 m.FRIDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, strong southwest winds, treeline temperature -2 C, freezing level 500 m.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported on Tuesday. Avalanche activity may increase on Wednesday with the incoming storm.
Snowpack Summary
New snow on Wednesday will fall on about 50 cm of recent snow, which sits on a thick melt-freeze crust. Reports indicate that the snow is bonding well to the crust. Strong winds on Wednesday may redistribute snow, producing wind slabs in lee terrain features. Snow depths increase substantially with higher elevations. Expect to find about 200 cm at treeline elevations.
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.