Regions
Northwest Inland.
Watch for wind slabs in lee features at higher elevations. Use caution if wet snow is found at low elevations.
Confidence
Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northeasterly winds, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level rising to 1300 m.SATURDAY: Partly cloudy, light easterly winds, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 1300 m.SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northwesterly winds, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level 1300 m.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed in the region on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
Variable snow surfaces are found in the region. In the east of the region, 5 to 10 cm of snow fell onto a melt-freeze crust from recent warm temperatures and rain. In the west of the region, the melt-freeze crust is on the surface. Wet snow may still exists at low elevations on all aspects. High elevation north aspects may have lingering wind slabs in immediate lee features. This overlies a surface hoar and sugary facet layer in sheltered locations.A surface hoar and crust layer from January is buried around 80 to 140 cm in the southwest of the region. This layer still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like a cornice fall.Sugary facets exist at the bottom of the snowpack in steep, rocky, and shallow snowpack areas.
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.