Change is in the air: Strong Westerly winds on Saturday night through Sunday are set to transform powder snow into variable, slabby conditions. Avoid steep lee slopes. Seek sheltered areas for great turns, but watch for lurking logs & stumps.
Weather Forecast
On Sunday, a low stalled on the coast sends us it's wishes: expect warmer temperatures (-10 at treeline), strong Westerlies, and flurries. 5cm of new snowfall on Sunday night as winds drop may bury Wind Slabs. Monday sees a triumph of the Arctic ridge. Sunshine and Light winds predominate on Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures from -15 to -24.
Snowpack Summary
30cm of low density snow is being redistributed into Wind Slabs. The snowpack above 2000m is over 100cm deep in the West, but much shallower at lower elevations, and in Eastern areas. A crust from Mid-November is buried near the bottom of the snowpack. In some areas, cold temperatures have weakened this crust, which is worthy of consideration.
Avalanche Summary
Widespread spindrift was observed in steep wind-exposed terrain on Saturday afternoon. It is likely loose snow avalanche activity was occurring in similar areas .
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.