Regions
Northwest Inland.
This bulletin was published using limited data. Regional snowpack variability likely exists, so be your own forecaster and make observations continually as you travel.
Confidence
Low - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
A Pacific frontal system will slide through the region on Monday night and Tuesday bringing 5-10cm of snow and strong to extreme westerly winds. A dry ridge of high pressure will develop for Wednesday and early Thursday delivering mainly clear skies and moderate northwesterly winds. Light snowfall is forecast for Thursday afternoon. Freezing levels may rise to 500m with the passage of the frontal system, and then drop to valley bottom on Wednesday and Thursday. For a more detailed weather overview, please check-out our Mountain Weather Forecast at: avalanche.ca/weather
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported from the region. With new wind and snow forecast for Monday night, I would expect a new round of wind slab activity at treeline and in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
Light amounts of new snow forecast for Monday night will likely be redistributed by extreme westerly winds into new wind slabs at treeline and in the alpine. The few reports we've received suggest the height of snow at treeline is approximately 100cm. According to these reports, the mid-snowpack is mainly comprised of older settled storm snow, while weak facets exist at or near the ground.
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.