Regions
Northwest Inland.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
Overnight and Monday: Light precipitation and light winds overnight should become moderate precipitation in the afternoon. The freezing level should be at valley bottoms.Tuesday: Cloudy with light precipitation and light winds. Freezing level rising to about 900 metres.Wednesday: Continued unsettled weather, cloudy with light precipitation.
Avalanche Summary
Some loose snow sluffing in steep terrain was reported from the West of the region.
Snowpack Summary
Light snow fall is expected to bury the recent surface hoar before the strong winds develop. Foot penetration has reduced to about 25 cm as the recent storm slab continues to settle. The west of the region is reporting a very well settled snow pack at all elevations. The East parts of the region have reported a shallow weak snowpack with areas of basal facets. Strong southwest winds have formed touchy wind slabs in exposed terrain in the lee of ridges, gully side walls, and behind terrain features. There are a variety of old interfaces now down 60 - 100cm which include facets, crusts and isolated pockets of surface hoar.
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.