Avalanche Forecast
Regions: South Coast.
New snow will slide easily on the slippery crust. Watch for reactivity in freshly formed deposits of soft wind slab in lee terrain features near ridge crest.
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
Sunday night: Flurries starting up to 5 cm. Light to moderate southwest wind. Treeline temperatures around -6.
Monday: New snow 5-15 cm. Light westerly wind. Treeline high temperatures around -5.
Tuesday: New snow around 5 cm. Westerly wind building to strong. Treeline high temperatures around 0.
Wednesday: Overnight snow 15-20 cm. Strong southwest wind. Treeline high temperatures around -3.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanche activity.
Snowpack Summary
5-20 cm of new low density snow sits over a thick, supportive surface crusts at all elevations.
Treeline snow depths in advance of the storm were around 80-100 cm but rain has eroded some of this. Much of treeline and almost all below treeline elevations are still below threshold depths for avalanches.
Terrain and Travel
- Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
- Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow will slide easily on the slippery crust. Thin pockets of soft wind slab may be surprisingly reactive.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5