While you're sleeping Friday night, strong SW wind is expected to fuel another round of natural avalanches. While the light wind and lack of snowfall on Saturday may seam benign, the mountains are currently primed for human triggered avalanches.
Confidence
Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
A deep upper trough is moving through BC this weekend. A few disturbances are expected to continue to deliver moderate precipitation into southwestern BC through Friday night. As the trough exits Saturday, snowfall is expected to cease as the freezing level drops to near sea level. Sunday offers a break in the action before modest snowfall begins again on Monday.FRIDAY NIGHT: 5 to 15 cm of snow, strong to extreme southwest wind.SATURDAY: Overcast skies, freezing level beginning around 500m rising to 750m in the afternoon, light SW wind, no significant precipitation expected. SUNDAY: Overcast skies, freezing level beginning around 500m rising to 750m in the afternoon, light SW wind, no significant precipitation expected. MONDAY: Overcast skies, freezing level around 500m, moderate SW wind, 5 to 10 cm of snow. Visit avalanche.ca/weather for a more detailed mountain weather forecast.
Avalanche Summary
A natural avalanche cycle has likely occurred at upper elevations. Natural avalanche activity may persist through Friday night as strong to extreme winds blow out of the south/southwest. Many slopes, especially those in wind loaded terrain remain very sensitive to human triggering.
Snowpack Summary
The mountains of the South Coast received 30 to 70 cm of snow Thursday night adding to the 50 cm accumulated over the last few days. This storm slab is bonding poorly to a sun crust on southerly aspects and surface hoar on shaded aspects. Widespread whumphing and shooting cracks were reported at and below treeline on Friday. Fluctuating temperatures have likely resulted in weaknesses within this recent storm snow and southwesterly winds have likely formed deep and touchy wind slabs in exposed terrain. The mid and lower snowpack appear to be well settled and strong.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.